Boris Johnson vows Pingdemic WILL end on August 16 and says UK set to roar back with ‘very, very strong’ economic growth
BORIS Johnson has vowed Brits WILL be freed from crippling Pingdemic self-isolation rules on August 16 and predicted the UK will roar back from Covid.
The PM said the switch from mandatory quarantine to testing for those who have been double-jabbed is "nailed on" and won't be delayed.
And in upbeat remarks he said our world-beating vaccination programme means the country is set up for a "very, very strong" economic recovery.
But he also urged Brits not to get carried away by figures showing that new infections have now plummeted for seven days in a row.
Boris told LBC: "We've seen some encouraging recent data, there's no question about that. But it is far, far too early to draw any general conclusions.
"The most important thing is for people to recognise that the current situation still calls for a lot of caution.
"And for people just to remember that the virus is still out there, that a lot people have got it and it still presents a significant risk."
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The PM insisted there is no chance of plans to end self-isolation rules for the double-jabbed on August 16 being shelved.
From that date fully vaccinated Brits who get pinged for coming into contact with a positive case will be able to take a test instead.
Boris said: "August 16 is is nailed on, there's never been any question of a review date.
"I'm very pleased that this is a country that now has the highest proportion of vaccinated adults of any country in the world.
"That is enabling us to make economic progress that we are. You're seeing the the job numbers increasing.
"It's clear that if we're sensible, and we continue to take a cautious approach then we can see a very, very strong recovery.
"The rest of this year, there will still be bumps in the road, but I think you'll you'll see a story of steady economic recovery and perhaps quite a fast economic recovery as well."
Fastest recovery
His remarks come after the IMF said Britain will enjoy the joint fastest growth in the entire G7 this year thanks to the stonking vaccine rollout.
The International Monetary Fund predicted the UK will boom by 7 per cent this year - far higher than the 5.3 per cent they reckoned back in April.
Britain will see higher growth than France, Germany or Canada, the IMF said, and will grow at the same rate as the United States.
They said the government’s lightning quick vaccine rollout has put rocket boosters under business.
While even if another super infectious mutant Covid springs up in Britain, the effect on the economy is likely to be “mild” because of the high wall of protection the jabs programme has built up, the IMF said.
But one of the reasons the UK is predicted to enjoy monster growth this year is because we suffered one of the biggest slumps in 2020.
Britain’s economy shrank by a massive 9.8 per cent last year - the worst hit out of all the G7 countries.
If we're sensible, and we continue to take a cautious approach, then we can see a very, very strong recovery
Boris Johnson
The PM twice refused to confirm Brits will definitely need vaccine passports to get into mass venues like nightclubs and football matches.
Boris was reluctant to repeat his announcement from last week than party-goers will have to be double-jabbed to get into clubs.
And he also contradicted claims from senior minister Michael Gove that young people who refuse to get the shot are being "selfish".
The softened remarks come with the PM facing the biggest rebellion of his premiership over his jabs certificate plans.
Pressed twice on vaccine passports being introduced for mass events, Boris would only say: "I think it's a very positive thing to do to get a vaccine.
"People can obviously see when you look at things like like travel, like mass events, that it's going to be one of those things that will help you not hinder you."
Asked if he agrees that vaccine refuseniks are being selfish, the PM added: "I think that I would put it the other way around and say if you get one you're doing something massively positive for yourself, for your family."
Annual jabs
Cabinet minister Therese Coffey also slapped down Mr Gove and said many Brits who are "still scared" of taking the jab need encouraging not shaming.
The work and pensions secretary said annual boosters jabs will become the "new norm" for years to come as we "continue to live with Covid".
She said: "What's the point of not having the vaccine? At the moment we still have aspects of restrictions on our life not necessarily imposed by Government, far from it.
"It’s about social responsibility and I really hope people take up the opportunity."
A top supermarket chief today questioned why exemptions for all jabbed workers from self-isolation won't come in for another three weeks.
Iceland boss Richard Walker said his staff are deleting the Test and Trace app "en masse" and added: "To be honest, who can blame them?"
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He said Government carve-outs for employees in the food supply chain are a "pointless solution " because they don't cover staff on the shop floor.
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The remarks came as one minister claimed Britain has now reached herd immunity as Covid cases fell for the seventh day in a row.
Hopes the Covid pandemic is finally beginning to end in the UK emerged as the infection rate appears to have slowed, with deaths remaining comparatively low.