UK Covid LIVE: PM to announce on Monday if lockdown can lift on July 5 as Hancock says data ‘looking encouraging’

Leah Sinclair and Barney Davis
·1 min read
UK Covid LIVE: PM to announce on Monday if lockdown can lift on July 5 as Hancock says data ‘looking encouraging’

Boris Johnson will announce on Monday whether all Covid restrictions can be lifted in England on July 5.

“Freedom Day” has been pushed back to July 19, but the prime minister will pore over data including cases, hospitalisations and deaths, ahead of Monday to see if he can bring that date forward.

The PM’s spokesperson said: “Monday will be the day when we were deciding on the decision on that and we are closely monitoring the data, ahead of providing a full update. We will set out very clearly to the public, the rationale for the decision we’ve made.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock earlier said the data is "looking encouraging" for July reopening in England.

"I hope that we can take the steps on July 19, that are pencilled in for then, because the data is looking encouraging," he said. "We are also looking to see how we can replace the protections that are currently there with the restrictions with protections that come from the vaccine, with respect to international travel as well.”

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