It IS full steam ahead on freedom day: Boris Johnson puts faith in the public's common sense on July 19 - even though some doctors and scientists want to delay it
Boris Johnson is to press ahead with the lifting of Covid rules on July 19 despite increasing pressure last night from some doctors and scientists to delay the move.
The Prime Minister is expected to confirm tomorrow that all restrictions will be removed on 'Freedom Day' in a week, with No 10 sources saying that Mr Johnson trusted in 'the innate good sense of the British people' not to embrace their new liberties 'recklessly'.
The pledge came after the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges warned yesterday that the number of cases was 'rising dramatically' and the NHS was under unprecedented pressure.
Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairwoman of the AMRC, said she was 'profoundly concerned' about removing all restrictions on July 19.
The Prime Minister (pictured in July 2019) is expected to confirm tomorrow that all restrictions will be removed on 'Freedom Day' in a week despite increasing pressure from some doctors
Almost 45.8 million people have received the first dose of the vaccine – equivalent to 86.9 per cent of adults, while 65.6 per cent have received both jabs.
Yesterday, the UK recorded 32,367 new Covid cases and 34 deaths after the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges warned that the number of cases was 'rising dramatically
'There seems to be a misapprehension that life will return to normal from then and that we can throw away all the precautions and, frankly, that would be dangerous,' she said.
But a Government source said: 'It is still full steam ahead, but we are trusting people to behave cautiously.
'There are going to be some difficult days ahead, but it is better that we open up now with the school holidays upon us than when they are back in the classrooms in the autumn.'
Yesterday, the UK recorded 32,367 new Covid cases and 34 deaths.
Almost 45.8 million people have received the first dose of the vaccine – equivalent to 86.9 per cent of adults, while 65.6 per cent have received both jabs.
Ministers have urged Mr Johnson to let double-jabbed tourists come to the UK from July 19 – or risk devastating the domestic holiday market.
PHE's weekly update also revealed that every local authority in England saw a rise in Covid infections last week except three, as the third wave of infections continues to surge
In fresh documents it emerged that modelling produced by the government's SAGE modelling committee Spi-M underestimated hospital admissions by over a third
England's Covid R rate may now be as high as 1.5 — the highest it has been since the second wave spiralled out of control in October, Government scientists have announced
The Cabinet has been split over how to open up travel, with some warning against a phased reopening that prioritises people who have been double-jabbed in the UK.
Despite this, a staggered approach was announced last week after the Border Force said it wouldn't cope with a full reopening, sources told The Mail on Sunday.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that from July 19, people who have received both jabs from the NHS will be able to visit amber-list countries without having to self-isolate on returning to the UK.
Monthly vaccine trial to help one million beat long Covid
Thousands of long Covid sufferers are set to be offered monthly vaccine doses in an effort to beat the debilitating illness – after reports that patients can make a dramatic recovery after a jab.
More than one million Britons are said to be suffering from long Covid, with studies suggesting 400,000 have been hit by symptoms for more than a year.
This will be the first drug trial of a long Covid treatment. In the first stage of the landmark study, severely affected patients will be offered two additional vaccine doses.
Dr David Strain of Exeter University, who will lead the trial, has surveyed more than 900 long Covid patients, of whom more than half saw their symptoms improve after the first dose.
Dr Strain said: 'Many patients saw a dramatic improvement within days of their jab. Their fatigue disappeared. They were able to walk further without feeling breathlessness.'
People living abroad, including Britons who have not had their vaccines in the UK, will still have to quarantine when arriving in the UK from an amber list destination.
Economic 'hawks' are furious over allowing double-jabbed Britons to travel from July 19, but not foreign tourists from amber countries – and warn it will devastate the UK's summer holiday industry.
They say British holidaymakers who had booked staycations will now cancel them and go abroad – but foreign tourists won't be able to make up the shortfall.
It is understood that Home Secretary Priti Patel has argued for the staggered approach to protect Border Force capacity.
Meanwhile, scientists have urged the Government to waive vaccine patents to avoid new lockdowns.
Independent Sage member Professor Stephen Reicher said: 'We need urgent action to allow poorer countries to produce their own safe, effective vaccines.
Removing all coronavirus restrictions while allowing the virus to spread and mutate worldwide is like leaving an open goal in the ninetieth minute of the game.'
Last night, a No 10 spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister will review the latest data tomorrow and set out our plans for step four. We need to learn to live with the virus, but caution remains key.
'The Prime Minister will urge the public to continue to use their freedoms responsibly, so we do not put at risk the progress we have worked so hard for.'