Four tests to lift lockdown that haven’t been met and what needs to happen to unlock in full

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FOUR tests to relax lockdown rules next week have not been passed, Boris Johnson confirmed tonight as he announced a month’s delay.

The PM told a gloomy press conference: “Today I cannot say that we have met all our four tests for proceeding with Step Four. On June 21 I think it is sensible to wait just a little longer.”

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The PM confirmed tonight the four tests to lift lockdown haven’t been met

Scientists laid out sobering stats showing a worrying rise in cases and hospitalisations fuelled by the super-infectious Indian Delta variant.

They issued a chilling warning that hospital admissions would rise to the same peak as the first wave if the PM ploughed on with his roadmap.

It means that – although Britain’s vaccine drive continues to make strides – the Government’s criteria to safely proceed has not been met.

Mr Johnson said: “Now is the time to ease off the accelerator. Because, by being cautious now, we have the chance in the next four weeks to save many thousands of lives by vaccinating millions more people.”

He also said tonight:

  • Weddings will be able to have as many guests as the venue can fit while keeping social distancing in a joy for thousands of couples
  • The Government’s work from home guidance will remain in place
  • Furlough will not be extended and will end in September as planned
  • Vaccine passports will be trialled at some upcoming Euros matches
  • Over-40s will now receive their second jab after eight weeks not 12
  • Another review of the data will be conducted on June 28 to see if lockdown can end early
  • MPs will vote on the delay to lockdown next Wednesday as fuming MPs lashed out at the delay
  • Care home residents returning from hospital will no longer need to isolate for 14 days 
  • Face masks and social distancing will stay for now
  • Cases are up a third in a week, as another 7,700 people test positive
  • But hopeful PHE data revealed that the variants ARE still tackled effectively with the various vaccines
  • Vaccines will open for 23 and 24-year-olds from TOMORROW
  • The rule of six will stay inside – and a cap of 30 will still apply outdoors for the meantime
  • Some businesses such as nightclubs will have to stay shut for even longer
  • The news means larger group holidays will have to be cancelled for the next month at least

The vaccine rollout is continues to make strides and passed with flying colours
The infectious Delta variant is now making up almost all of new cases
Hospital admissions are rising rapidly in England, especially the North West

At tonight’s gloomy press conference chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty talked through each of the four tests in turn and came armed with data.

Opening with the good news, he said the first test – that Britain’s vaccine rollout was making strides – had been met.

He said: “I think everybody in the country knows that both first vaccinations and increasingly rapidly second vaccinations are progressing very effectively second to the work of the NHS, volunteers, and many, many others.

“So this test has been met, and expect the rates to continue to be good as the Prime Minister has laid out.”

Some 41million adults have now received their first dose, including 30million who have been doube-jabbed.

Tomorrow 23 and 24-year-olds will be called up for their first dose, the PM announced.

He was also positive about the second test – that vaccines were wrestling down hospitalisations and deaths – and hailed fresh data that two doses offered as much as 98 per cent protection against being hospitalised.

The third test – that infection rates don’t drive up hospital admissions and swamp the NHS – was more bleak.

Infections are quickly rising in England, especially in hotspots of the North West

Prof Whitty revealed that hospitalisations is increasing 15 per cent week on week and 61 per cent in the North West.

And on the final test – that worrying variants were being kept at bay – he pointed to the dramatic spread of the Delta mutation across the country.

The variant – which new data shows is between 40 to 80 per cent more infections – now accounts for almost all new cases.

Laying out the alarming picture Mr Johnson said: “We’re seeing cases growing by about 64 per cent per week, and in the worst affected areas, it’s doubling every week. 

“And the average number of people being admitted to hospital in England has increased by 50 per cent week on week, and by 61 per cent in the North West, which may be the shape of things to come.

“Because we know the remorseless logic of exponential growth and even if the link between infection and hospitalisation has been weakened it has not been severed. “

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