Boris Johnson told a Downing Street press conference yesterday evening that although voluntary, the use of domestic vaccine passports and face masks will be encouraged “as a matter of social responsibility”as he asked people to ‘proceed with caution’ as the county opens up next week.
“It is absolutely vital that we proceed now with caution and I cannot say this powerfully or emphatically enough: this pandemic is not over.” he said.
“This disease, coronavirus, continues to carry risks for you and your family.
“We cannot simply revert instantly from Monday July 19th to life as it was before Covid.
“We will stick to our plan to lift legal restrictions and to lift social distancing, but we expect and recommend that people wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you come into contact with those you don’t normally meet, such as on public transport.”
Mr Johnson warned that July 19 “should not be taken as an invitation by everybody simply to have a great jubilee and freedom from any kind of caution or restraint”.
Nightclubs, which will be able to reopen for the first time since March 2020 on July 19th are being encouraged to use the Covid Pass on the NHS app when allowing entry, however if cases continue to rise the Government could consider making its use mandatory.
The Covid Pass, on the NHS app, shows proof of double vaccination, a recent negative test or natural immunity having recovered from coronavirus.
