BORIS Johnson is set to delay lockdown lifting “freedom day” to July 19 after cases of the mutant Indian strain exploded by 240 per cent in just a week, The Sun can reveal.
Under plans drawn up to be announced on Monday, a two-week review will be included meaning
Covid restrictions could be dropped on July 5 if hospitalisations stay down.
But multiple sources told the Sun the chances of lifting restrictions as
planned on June 21 were close to zero - in a massive blow to
Wembley hosting of
the Euros.
Group games will have a 25 per cent stadium cap - 22,500 fans - with that hopefully rising to around 45,000 for the Semis and the
July 11 Final.
It had been hoped Wembley could be full of
fully jabbed or tested fans by then, but the delay to the last phase of the roadmap has scotched that.
Running the big matches as pilots for Covid certification trials means the capacity numbers can be stretched, but there will still be thousands of empty seats.
Whitehall sources involved in planning for the delay, point to the fact that all UK adults will have been offered at least one jab by the end of July, with short delay considered far better than having to u-turn and reintroduce restrictions.
One source said: “The last thing they need is a hokey cokey of in out, in out of restrictions.
“No one wants to go backwards, and we have to get this right first go.”
The delay will be used to work out if the vaccine rollout really
means rising cases numbers do not spark a surge in hospitalisations - and it will allow millions more people to be double jabbed.
ROADMAP: HOW IT WILL UNFOLD
June 14 - Boris Johnson will address nation and lay out his plan to delay June 21
June 21 - Original date set for 'Freedom Day' now likely to be delayed
July 5 - Boris Johnson will review and assess the data as part of his 'two-week break clause'. Restrictions could be eased partially or fully if data is positive
July 19 - Proposed new 'Freedom Day' when PM hopes to lift all restrictions across England