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Boris Johnson says there’s a ‘good chance’ social distancing rules will be scrapped next month
BORIS Johnson says he is confident of dispensing with one-metre-plus social distancing next month as the nation hurtles towards Covid freedom.
As Britain soared past 50million jabs, and only one new virus death recorded, the PM offered a glimmer of hope that some of the most draconian limits would be scrapped in England from June 21.
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He said there was a “good chance” the metre rule will be gone in time for summer.
It will mean pubs, restaurants, cinemas and theatres could be packed to the rafters with jabbed-up punters making millions of small businesses viable once again.
Mr Johnson revealed that more than one in four adults had now had two vaccine doses and that the next step of his unlocking plan — phase three on May 17 when indoor meetings are allowed again — was “going to be good”.
Speaking on the campaign trail in Hartlepool, the PM said: “As things stand, and the way things are going, with the vaccine rollout going the way that it is — we have done 50million jabs as I speak to you today, quarter of the adult population, one in four have had two jabs.
“You are seeing the results of that really starting to show up in the epidemiology. I think that we will be able to go ahead, feels like May 17 is going to be good.
“But it also looks to me as though June 21, we’ll be able to say social distancing as we currently have to do it, the one metre plus, I think we have got a good chance of being able to dispense with the one metre plus from June 21.”
It comes as:
- Surge Covid testing is extended in London to stop the spread of the South African variant
- The limit of 30 mourners at funerals in England will be lifted a month early after the Queen was pictured sitting alone at the service for Philip
- Britain is set to hit 50m Covid jabs as more than 15m get their second vaccine
- 'One metre plus’ social distancing ‘is to be scrapped in June’ so pubs and cinemas can reopen fully, it's claimed
- But masks and social distancing are set to stay past June 21, it's been suggested
But he still urged caution, adding: “That is still dependent on the data. We can’t say it categorically yet. We have got to look at the epidemiology as we progress. We have got to look at where we get to with the disease. But that’s what it feels like to me right now.”
But the PM dodged a question on wearing masks after the fourth and last stage of his lockdown-lifting plan on June 21.
A Downing Street source said: “It’s our aspiration to get life back to normal as much as possible.
“An informed guess will tell you that you may have to wear them on the bus or Tube, but the data from events pilots we’ve seen over the weekend will tell us more, and we’re still waiting for that.”
GREAT BRITISH SUMMER
Yesterday, pubs across the nation welcomed the chance to ditch table service and get back to ordering a pint at the bar.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: “The Prime Minister’s comments give our sector hope of a return to normality and viability on June 21.
“Given pubs are financially unviable under the current restrictions they face, being able to reopen without any restrictions at all from June 21st is going to be vital to their survival.
”Our recovery only begins when the restrictions are removed, so we hope the Prime Minister will stick to his roadmap and promise of Freedom Day on June 21.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that the jabs landmark heralded the start of a “Great British Summer” and praised The Sun’s Jabs Army of volunteers for boosting the rollout.
He revealed 29.4 per cent of adults — more than 15million - had received both jab doses, with 50,089,549 administered in total.
He said: “The UK vaccination programme has just delivered its 50millionth vaccine.
“I want to say a massive thank you to everybody involved — the NHS, the scientists, the Armed Forces and the council personnel who’ve helped so much and the volunteers who’ve brought a real spirit to this programme.
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“It seems like only yesterday that Margaret Keenan was getting the first clinically authorised vaccine in the world and now we have delivered 50million.”
There will still be some limits on the biggest events, where a cap on numbers will remain beyond June 21 so that people can safely use public transport.
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It means that Wembley Stadium will be half-empty for the final of football’s European Championship on July 11 — with around 45,000 supporters able to cheer at the showpiece game.
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