Boris Johnson asks England to 'proceed with caution' as he confirms lifting of COVID restrictions

Boris Johnson has confirmed that the majority of COVID restrictions in England will be lifted next week. 

However, in a Downing Street press conference, the Prime Minister said the country would need to “proceed with caution”.

He also said he would “expect and recommend” people to continue wearing masks in crowded indoor spaces, despite no longer being mandatory south of the border on July 19. 

Johnson said: “It is absolutely vital that we proceed now with caution, and I cannot say this powerfully or emphatically enough – this pandemic is not over. This disease, coronavirus, continues to carry risks for you and your family. We cannot simply revert instantly on Monday 19 July to life as it was before COVID.

He added: “We’re removing the government instructions to work from home where you can, but we don’t expect that the whole country will return as one from Monday [July 19],” he said.

“And as a matter of social responsibility, we’re urging nightclubs and other venues with large crowds to make use of the NHS COVID Pass, which shows proof of vaccination.

“We expect and recommend that people wear a face covering in private and enclosed spaces.”

As he was speaking, modelling released by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) warned the NHS could lead at least 1,000 hospitalisations a day. 

However, if people’s behaviour returns to pre-lockdown levels researchers suggested there could be around 1,300 to 4,800 hospitalisations per day. 

“The priority should be to avoid a very rapid return to pre-pandemic behaviour which could lead to a peak in hospitalisations similar to, or possibly even higher than, previous peaks,” SAGE concluded.

“The mechanism by which this gradual change to more mixing is achieved is much less important than the fact it is gradual.”