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BORIS Johnson will reveal post-lockdown rules next week – as he today raised hopes that Freedom Day is still on track for June 21.
The PM ruled out needing vaccine passports for the pub – but did not guarantee scrapping social distancing and masks.
Boris Johnson today raised hopes that lockdown will end as planned on June 21 – and ruled out needing vaccine passports for the pub[/caption]
The PM on a visit to Portsmouth said he sees “nothing in the data to deviate from the roadmap”[/caption]
On a visit to the HMS Queen Elizabeth II warship in Portsmouth he promised to flesh out more details “by the end of the month”.
He said: “We will be letting everybody know exactly what sort of arrangements to expect for June 21.
“But what I can tell you, and just to stress that I am still seeing nothing in the data that leads me to think that we’re going to have to deviate from the road map – obviously we must remain cautious but I’m seeing nothing that makes me think we have to deviate.
“But on June 21 and vaccine certification – or Covid status certification I should say – people should bear in mind that I don’t see any prospect of certificates to go into pubs or anything else.”
Legal restrictions are set to end on June 21, but there will likely be guidance on social distancing and masks.
Quizzed on whether the public will continue to be asked to wear masks, Mr Johnson said: “We will let people know as much as we possibly can by the end of the month about weddings, for instance.
“All the details we’ll try and let people know by the end of the month about exactly where we think we’ll be on June 21, Step 4.”
This morning Justice Secretary Robert Buckland suggested mask-wearing would continue – especially for people suffering colds.
He told Sky News: “Whatever the regulations might be, and clearly as we come out of this Covid period all of us want to see an end to the use of regulations so we can live our lives as we would want to live, there will be a certain sense I think for a lot of us to carry on wearing masks.”
The Cabiner Minister added: “If I’ve got a runny nose and I’m still able to get out there and work, I think wearing a mask is not a bad idea.”
On a visit to the HMS Queen Elizabeth II warship in Portsmouth he promised to flesh out more details “by the end of the month”[/caption]
Mr Johnson in the cockpit of a military plane in Portsmouth[/caption]
A review considering whether to drop social distancing and mask-wearing is ongoing.
Today the PM’s official spokesperson said the review would be “based on the best evidence and scientific data”.
And pressed if Mr Johnson would carry on wearing a mask after June 21, he said: “It’s not something I’ve asked him.”
The Government’s review, which will also consider if the one-metre rule should be dropped, will monitor the spread of the Indian variant.
Rising cases of the infectious mutation have fuelled fears the roadmap could be knocked off course.
Statistics boffins today revealed the the number of people testing positive showed “early signs of a potential increase” although rates remain low.
Chaotic scenes at Heathrow have also stoked concerns that the borders are not sufficiently secure to keep out Covid.
The PM has recently been dogged by criticism about the Government’s traffic light system of travel.
Mr Johnson said drinkers won’t need a vaccine passport to go to the pub[/caption]
In their weekly Commons showdown on Wednesday Sir Keir Starmer took aim at the Government’s traffic light system before tearing into its track record.
He raged: “Our borders have been wide open pretty well throughout the pandemic.”
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The Spanish government confirmed today that it would follow Portugal’s lead and allow UK tourists in, despite the country still being on the UK’s amber travel list.
Well-placed Spanish Ministry of Tourism sources confirmed British tourists would be let into the country without having to show a negative coronavirus test or proof they have been vaccinated.
Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez also announced that UK holidaymakers would be allowed to enter the country from Monday, May 24.
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