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Boris Johnson announcement: What did the PM say in his Freedom Day speech today, Monday, July 19?
BORIS Johnson led a coronavirus press conference on Freedom Day.
The Prime Minister made his announcement via video link as he is currently in self-isolation at Chequers.
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What did Boris Johnson say?
Speaking from his grace-and-favour mansion in Buckinghamshire, he urged Brits to show restraint after all restrictions were lifted.
The PM announced key workers in energy plants and food factories will be able to skip self isolation to stop the country grinding to a halt.
He said: "I want to remind you all why I believe why it is right to take this step now - no matter how difficult it seems. The logic remains the same.
"If we don't open up now, we face even tougher conditions in the colder months when the virus has a natural advantage and we lose that break of the school holidays.
"There comes a point after so many have been vaccinated when further restrictions no longer prevent hospitalisations and deaths, but simply delay the inevitable.
"We have to ask ourselves, if not now, when?"
He also insisted that it is essential to keep up with the system of test, trace and isolate.
Mr Johnson continued: "I know how frustrating it is for all of those who have been affected or pinged.
"I want to explain that people identified as contacts of cases are at least five times more likely to be infected than others and even if they have been vaccinated, there is a significant risk that they can still pass the disease."
🔵 Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest updates
This press conference was the first since the start of the pandemic not to be entirely held in Downing Street.
Top boffins Jonathan Van Tam and Patrick Vallance chipped in from Downing Street - but the PM remained in a stately room.
Top of that list is the fixing of the “pingdemic” as more than a million people are forced to spend Freedom Day in isolation.
More than a million people have been forced to spend Freedom Day in isolation as a result of 'pingdemic'.
There are demands that Test and Trace isolation is immediately ditched for the double-jabbed as businesses face crippling staff shortages caused by the pinging of close contacts of those with Covid.
Tens of thousands are deleting the NHS app that pings close contacts of any positive case after a cases spike meant huge numbers, particularly in cities, were being forced to self-isolate at home despite no symptoms.
England’s Freedom Day comes amid the UK's soaring infection rate - and the threat of further lockdowns – but Johnson has given the green light to the easing of most restrictions.
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