At a Downing Street Press Conference this evening (14th June), Boris Johnson confirmed a four-week delay to the lifting of all restrictions in England beyond 21 June. The new date for lifting the restrictions has now been set at 19 July. This could be a week or two earlier if the data allows, but 19th July is the most likely. Capacity limits for sports, pubs and cinemas will remain, and nightclubs will remain closed. The number of guests at weddings and wakes will no longer be limited to 30, but restrictions on these events will remain in terms of social distancing, etc. The delay is designed to allow more people to be vaccinated and have second doses amid rising cases of the Delta variant. Cases are growing by about 64% per week and in the worst affected areas are doubling each week. The aim is to have double jabbed two-thirds of the adult population by 19 July.
It means remaining restrictions – affecting things like clubbing, festivals and capacity in pubs and restaurants – will stay in place until at least 19 July. For those businesses still adverseley affected, the business support measures are intended to last through to September and in terms of business rates local authorities have an extra £1bn to cover those who need it. The delay to stage 4 of the ‘Roadmap from Lockdown’ also means that the limits on how many people you can have in your home won’t be lifted. That’s six people or two households indoors, with up to 30 being able to meet outside.