Covid19 - Step 4 Delayed to 19th July 2021

The Prime Minister has announced this evening that Step 4 of the Roadmap for England will be delayed to the 19th July. However relaxations on caps of weddings and funerals (currently 30 persons) will be lifted (subject to social distancing measures remaining in place at those events).

As the Delta variant spreads, the Prime Minister confirmed the total number of infections is presently rising at a rate of 64% per week. Although hospitalisations have not risen at the same rate, increases of admissions have followed the increase of infections.

The positive impact of the vaccine programme reducing hospitalisationS and deaths was referenced by the Prime Minister in his speech; With this in mind, the Government will accelerate the program again and have undertaken to offer all adults their first vaccination shot by 19th July with two thirds of all adults receiving both vaccination shots by the same date.

A review of the situation in two weeks was promised by the Prime Minister who indicateD that Step 4 could potentially be brought forward if the data justified the acceleration.

If the Government adopt the same approach AS with the previous relaxations, we can expect another announcement by the Prime Minister on or about 12th July to confirm the proposed 19th July relaxation.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the 19th July reopening will occur describing the same as a ‘terminus date’. The final decision will REMPVE BE however remain dependent upon the infection rates, hospitalisations and deaths.

When pressed by reporters, the Prime Minister did not reveal any additional financial or legal supports for the hospitality industry in the interim.

Until 19th July, England will remain within Step 3.