Boris Johnson doesn’t rule out MORE lockdowns & warns ‘this pandemic is not over’ as Chris Whitty fears ‘exit wave’

BORIS Johnson last night refused to rule out further lockdowns as he told pubs and nightclubs to bring in Covid vaccine passports.

The PM confirmed he was pushing ahead with tearing up legal restrictions in England on July 19 — but massively watered down Freedom Day.

And, in a dramatic shift in tone, he failed to repeat his commitment that the ending of restrictions was irreversible as he warned Brits: “This pandemic is not over.”

The PM’s comments triggered an angry response from Tory MPs who fear the country could be slammed into reverse if a new variant comes along or hospitalisations surge.

They also criticised his decision to ask pubs to check the vaccine status of their customers — despite previously ruling this out.

At a gloomy press conference, the PM confirmed that lockdown laws were being replaced by tough ­guidance urging the country to ­voluntarily stick to curbs.

It says people should minimise the number of friends and family they see and how long they spend with them.

Workers were told not to rush back to the office. And people were told they should carry on wearing masks in indoor crowded spaces such as on public transport.

We must rule nothing out. We must protect the public and we will not hesitate to use the means that we have at our disposal

Boris Johnson

Mr Johnson warned that he could reimpose lockdown if Covid deaths skyrocket.

He said: “We must rule nothing out. We must protect the public and we will not hesitate to use the means that we have at our disposal.”

The PM told the lockdown-weary nation: “I think what we want to do is get people to think carefully about the ending of the restrictions that we’re announcing today.

“This is not the end of Covid. It requires constant vigilance. It means thinking about others as well as yourself.

“It means thinking about wearing a face covering in confined spaces where you meet other people that you don’t normally meet, as we said earlier on and we said last week.”

His ultra cautious approach is in stark contrast to his previous upbeat declarations that England is storming towards the “terminus date” for lockdown, and that ­easings are irreversible.

'HIGH-RISK SETTINGS'

Boris had previously ruled out Covid vaccine passports for pubs. But in an astonishing shift, “high risk settings” such as clubs, big pubs and mass events like festivals are being encouraged to adopt them.

Punters would have to show they have been jabbed, tested negative or have immunity to coronavirus to be allowed entry. And hidden in the small print, venues were warned they could be forced by law to bring in vaccine passports.

Ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said No 10 had been battered by gloomy scientists.

Downing Street has become spooked by rocketing Covid rates, particularly among younger adults.

Sir Patrick Vallance said there was no doubt the country was in the grip of a third wave.

The Chief Scientific Adviser warned hospitalisation and death rates would rise as the super- ­infectious Delta variant spreads like wildfire through the unjabbed.

Urging people to be ultra cautious, he added: “If behaviour returns immediately to pre-pandemic levels, that will be a very, very big rise.

“If we go slowly and cautiously, it will be less of a rise.”

Chief medic Chris Whitty also urged caution but said there was no clear evidence delaying Freedom Day would save any more lives.