Fears Covid restrictions ‘could be in place until SPRING’ as June 21 delay would leave a ‘very short window to open up’
COVID restrictions could be in place until spring next year, it is feared.
Ministers reportedly worry the planned two to four-week delay to the June 21 'freedom day' would leave a "very short window to open up".
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Government advisers have warned it could be become too late to lift the remaining restrictions in September as we head into autumn and winter, reports.
A senior minister last night claimed further postponements could lead to a full reopening in the spring, when transmission occurs less easily and winter strains on the NHS have eased.
They said: "I am very worried the people who want to keep us shut down now want us to keep us shut down permanently and are aiming for 'zero Covid'.
"Once you start delaying to the spring you're making this type of control of people's lives semi-permanent."
The Sun revealed on Friday that Boris Johnson is set to push the full lockdown lift to July 19 after cases of the mutant Indian strain exploded by 240 per cent in just a week.
Under plans drawn up to be announced on Monday, a two-week review will be included meaning Covid restrictions could be dropped on July 5 if hospitalisations stay down.
But multiple sources told The Sun the chances of lifting restrictions as planned on June 21 were close to zero.
Speaking ahead of Monday's announcement, the PM said: "We are seeing some worrying stuff in the data, clearly.
"We are seeing the delta variant causing an increase in cases, we are seeing an increase in hospitalisations."
He added: "The whole point of having an irreversible roadmap is just that, to make it irreversible, and to do that sometimes, as I've said repeatedly, you have to be cautious.
"And where it's necessary to be cautious, we will be."
The delay will be used to work out if the vaccine rollout really means rising cases numbers do not spark a surge in hospitalisations - and it will allow millions more people to be double jabbed.
Under the changes expected to be announced, social distancing rules and the rule-of-six are set to remain in place.
Pubs and restaurants won't be able to open to full capacity, with the number of customers allowed in limited by social distancing rules, and table service remaining.
It will mean still only six people can eat together inside, with gatherings of up to 30 people allowed outside.
The limit on numbers allowed into arenas, cinemas, sporting events and theatres would also stay.
Rules on face masks are expected to remain as they are, meaning they will still be needed on public transport and public venues inside.
Nightclubs, which are all currently shut, would also have to stay completely closed - despite having planned to reopen on June 21.
A return to the workplace would be pushed back, with workers expected to work from home for another month.
Senior government sources have said a cap on the number of people at weddings is likely to remain - after officials from Matt Hancock's health department warned that they could become "super-spreader" events.
A two-week review will be included - meaning Covid restrictions could be dropped on July 5 if hospitalisations stay down.
It comes after Downing Street were spooked after cases of the Indian variant rocketed last week.
Public Health England analysis shows infections have risen to 42,323 from 12,431 last week, a jump of 240 per cent.
Brits are two-thirds more likely to catch the Indian variant from close contacts - with cases more than tripling in 11 days.
Doubling rates for Delta – or Indian variant – infections were as high as 4.5 days in some parts of England. And 96 per cent of all cases are now due to the new strain.
Experts found household members are 64 per cent more likely to be infected with the bug compared to the Alpha or Kent strain.
And worrying research suggests the latest variant more than doubles risk of hospitalisation.
'WORRYING'
However, patient numbers have grown at a much slower pace than cases – suggesting the vaccines are currently working to save lives.
Just six per cent of all Delta variant infections were in people who had both jabs.
More than half of the 42 deaths due to the mutation were in unvaccinated Brits.
Covid cases generally have risen by a third in a week with a further 7,738 Brits testing positive today.
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Fatalities increased by 12 amid growing fears that the government's roadmap out of lockdown may be delayed.
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The rise in cases brings the total since the beginning of the pandemic to 4,558,494 and the total fatalities in the UK to 127,896.
It is higher than last Saturday's total of 5,765 and much higher than the 3,398 infections reported a fortnight ago on May 29.