On the 14th June, the Prime Minister addressed the country with an update to the coronavirus roadmap.
It was announced that the final step of the roadmap will be delayed by up to four weeks and the vaccination programme accelerated to respond to the rapid spread of the Delta variant.
Step 3 restrictions will continue in their current format with the following exceptions implemented from 21 June. No restrictions will be reimposed. More details on step 3 restrictions can be found here.
- The 30-person limit will be lifted for weddings and wakes. There will be no set limit on the number of attendees, but venues must adhere to covid secure guidance, maintain social distancing and provide table service. All weddings in private settings, such as gardens, must have completed a covid risk assessment to ascertain how many guests they can host safely.
- Event pilots will continue, including some Euro 2020 matches, Wimbledon, and some arts and music performances. Attendees will show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test.
- Care home residents will no longer need to isolate if they leave their residence. Exceptions will include high risk visits including overnight stays in hospital.
By 19 July, all adults will have been offered a first dose and around two thirds of all adults will have been offered two doses of the vaccine.
Data suggests that the Delta variant is between 40% and 80% more transmissible than the Alpha variant and is rapidly driving up case numbers.
The Roadmap has always been led by data and not dates, and the government’s four tests have not been met. In order to offer two vaccine doses to more people, prevent thousands of unnecessary deaths and protect the NHS, Step 4 will be delayed by up to four weeks to Monday 19 July. If the data rapidly improves this could be brought forward to 5 July.
The four tests are:
- The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
- Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
- Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
- Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern
Read more here about the UK Government's Covid-19 recovery strategy.
As always, please do contact me at tobias.ellwood.mp@parliament.uk if you require any assistance.
