http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9742985/No-face-masks-rule-July-19.html
No face masks rule from July 19: Mouth guards will become voluntary as
Covid curbs are axed.... and even nightclubs can reopen with NO testing
Face masks set to be made voluntary under plans to end most Covid
restrictions
Boris Johnson is pushing for the lifting of mask laws in almost all
indoor settings
Ministers have shelved plans to require mass events such as festivals to
use Covid passports to control entry
By JASON GROVES POLITICAL EDITOR FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 17:16 EDT, 30 June 2021 | UPDATED: 04:14 EDT, 1 July 2021
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Face masks are set to be made voluntary under plans to end most
coronavirus restrictions on July 19.
Boris Johnson is pushing for the lifting of mask laws in almost all
settings to help return life to 'as near normal as possible'.
Key social distancing measures, including the one-metre rule, the rule
of six and the 30-person limit on the size of outdoor gatherings, are
also set to be scrapped on the new 'Freedom Day'.
Read More
The Mail revealed today that ministers have shelved plans to require
mass events such as festivals to use Covid passports to control entry.
And last night it emerged that even nightclubs may be allowed to reopen
on July 19 without the need to test customers at the door, as part of a
new 'freedom plan' that could be published by the Prime Minister as soon
as next week.
The proposals reflect growing confidence in Government that the
vaccination rollout has severely weakened the link between infections,
and hospitalisations and deaths.
Covid cases are continuing to surge across the country.
Yesterday, 26,068 new cases were recorded – a rise of almost 70 per cent
in a week, and the highest figure since late January.
Yesterday, 26,068 new cases were recorded – a rise of almost 70 per cent
in a week, and the highest figure since late January +5
Yesterday, 26,068 new cases were recorded – a rise of almost 70 per cent
in a week, and the highest figure since late January
But there is growing confidence in Government that the vaccination
rollout has severely weakened the link between infections, and
hospitalisations and deaths +5
But there is growing confidence in Government that the vaccination
rollout has severely weakened the link between infections, and
hospitalisations and deaths
Daily hospitalisations due to Covid were running at 263, up by just 6.4
per cent in the last week and far below the January peak of 4,579 in a
single day +5
Daily hospitalisations due to Covid were running at 263, up by just 6.4
per cent in the last week and far below the January peak of 4,579 in a
single day
Chief medical officer Chris Whitty told the Cabinet this week that the
rise in Covid cases was not putting unsustainable pressure on hospitals
in England, as shown +5
Chief medical officer Chris Whitty told the Cabinet this week that the
rise in Covid cases was not putting unsustainable pressure on hospitals
in England, as shown
By contrast, daily hospitalisations due to Covid were running at 263, up
by just 6.4 per cent in the last week and far below the January peak of
4,579 in a single day.
Covid-related deaths have also risen slightly, but averaged at just 16
per day over the last week, with 14 yesterday.
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Chief medical officer Chris Whitty told the Cabinet this week that the
rise in Covid cases was not putting unsustainable pressure on hospitals
in England.
A source said Professor Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick
Vallance had suggested 'we should get as much open this summer as
possible before winter, which will be much more difficult'. Professor
Whitty, one of the architects of lockdown, was said to be 'cautiously
optimistic' that rules could now go – but warned that the winter would
be 'challenging' for the NHS.
Government sources said 'final decisions' had not been made, but
acknowledged that Mr Johnson is pushing to scrap as many rules as
possible +5
Government sources said 'final decisions' had not been made, but
acknowledged that Mr Johnson is pushing to scrap as many rules as possible
The Prime Minister has ordered officials to prioritise the removal of
the one-metre rule, which affects hospitality and is viewed as the most
economically damaging measure still in place.
Covid has slashed life expectancy by three YEARS in the North West of
England
The high number of people dying from Covid in the North West has caused
the life expectancy of men and women in the region to decline by a
combined 2.8 years, a study has found.
A report published today by the University College London found a high
Covid mortality rate and deprivation contributed to a decline in life
expectancy in the North West region, which was larger than the average
in England.
Life expectancy dropped across England last year by an average of 1.3
years for men and 0.9 years for women, but it decreased even more in the
North West, where it fell by 1.6 years for men and 1.2 years for women.
The report also found that people in Manchester were 24 per cent more
likely to die from Covid than the rest of England.
Researchers calculated that 307 men and 195 women per 100,000 in Greater
Manchester died from Covid between March 2020 and April 2021.
This was higher than the rest of England where 233.1 men and 142 women
per 100,000 died from the virus in the same period.
Professor Sir Michael Marmot, director of the IHE, said the area's high
death rates and 'particularly damaging long-term economic and social
effects' will damage health and widen health inequalities unless action
is taken.
His report proposes that the government should invest in jobs, housing,
local services and education to tackle these long-term problems.
It comes are the North West battles the biggest Covid outbreak in
England, fuelled by the Indian 'Delta' variant.
The region recorded 21 deaths in the week up to June 18 - more than any
other area of the country - according to figures released yesterday by
the Office for National Statistics.
Separate data from the Department of Health shows that the region was
responsible for 3,720 of the 14,608 infections recorded in England on
Thursday.
But ministers are also increasingly confident that face masks will not
be required in shops and on public transport, although they may remain
mandatory in hospitals. Sources said it was possible that travellers
could still be encouraged to voluntarily wear masks on public transport
even after the legal restrictions have been lifted.
Asked whether the requirement to wear a mask in shops and offices would
go on July 19, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'We aim to
remove as many restrictions as is safe to do so.'
Government sources said 'final decisions' had not been made, but
acknowledged that Mr Johnson is pushing to scrap as many rules as possible.
Some officials remain cautious about scrapping mask laws at a time when
new infections are soaring, and Sir Patrick has previously warned that
the rules may be needed again this winter, even if they are ditched next
month.
A review of social distancing rules by Michael Gove is said to have
concluded that even nightclubs, which are deemed so high risk they have
been unable to open since March last year, would get the green light to
open their doors without restrictions.
A source said Mr Gove had decided it would be 'too much hassle' to ask
late-night customers to take a Covid test to go dancing.
But Sage committee scientist Professor Stephen Reicher warned that
ministers were in danger of making 'the same mistakes as last summer'
when indoor hospitality was reopened in July, accompanied by a big back
to work push, leading to rocketing infections.
It comes after it emerged tens of millions of Britons could be offered a
third Covid jab in as little as two months under fresh guidance issued
by No10's top advisers last night.
The Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI) said the
booster scheme should start in September and could see 23million
over-50s, vulnerable Britons and NHS and care home staff offered another
dose.
Extra vaccines would be rolled out in two stages — prioritising those
most at risk of Covid — and patients are expected to be offered
whichever jab they were originally inoculated with. However, officials
have not ruled out a potential 'mix and match' vaccine schedule.
It will coincide with the annual influenza inoculation programme, which
health officials say will be vital this winter amid warnings of a
difficult flu season.
The interim advice has been drawn up to ensure the NHS is prepared for
any possible booster campaign in the autumn, while officials await more
data on whether a third jab will be needed.
Ministers are expected to make a decision on whether to go ahead with
the programme in the coming weeks.
Newly appointed Health Secretary Sajid Javid said he 'welcomed' the new
guidance, which could 'help us ensure we are ready in our preparations
for autumn'.
And Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, England's deputy chief medical officer,
said it would keep Britain on the 'front foot' in the fight against Covid.
JCVI sources said data suggested Covid jabs spark immunity that lasts
for at least six months in the 'majority' of cases, but there are fears
this could fade later in the year which could trigger a spike in
hospitalisations and deaths.
An Oxford University trial looking at booster doses suggested a third
shot six months after the second could restore peak immunity against Covid.
It comes after Professor Chris Whitty reportedly told a Cabinet meeting
yesterday that England is on course to lift the remaining Covid
restrictions on July 19 'Freedom Day'. And Boris Johnson sounded
increasingly bullish that restrictions would be lifted as planned at
PMQs today saying Britain has 'a higher wall of vaccination than
virtually any other country in the world'.
The UK today recorded more than 20,000 cases for the third day in a row,
but deaths from the virus continued to drop in a sure sign the vaccines
are working. But scientists today warned England could face a spike in
Covid cases in the coming weeks because of the Three Lions' success at
the Euro 2020s, although this is not expected to translate into a surge
in hospitalisations and deaths.
Just one in 100 NHS beds were being taken up by Covid patients in
England last week — fourteen times fewer than at the start of the second
wave, according to official figures highlighting the power of the vaccines.
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