What should we expect at 5pm news conference – and why the most interesting bits might come from Whitty and Vallance
By Jon Craig, chief political correspondent
An upbeat Boris Johnson is promising a bonfire of
England’s COVID rules and restrictions and will tell the nation: “We must learn
to live with the virus.”
In a week when the Three Lions are in the semis of the
Euros and an A-level student is taking Wimbledon by storm, the prime minister
is aiming for a hat-trick of good news.
So, in the first Downing Street COVID news conference for
three weeks, he will confirm that on “Freedom Day” on July 19, out will go:
- The one
metre-plus edict - The work
from home order - Mandatory
mask-wearing - Table
service only in pubs
Instead, we’ll be told the pandemic isn’t over and we
should use common sense and exercise our own judgement. But will it be as
simple as that?
It’s highly likely that public transport operators, shops
and other businesses will still insist on masks after 19 July. The PM will no
doubt be asked about…
