More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A Kent MP says she “can’t wait” to stop wearing face masks – as Boris Johnson prepares to tear up England’s coronavirus rules on July 19.
The Prime Minister will tell the country this afternoon that people will be left to work out how to reduce the risk posed by Covid, in the absence of government restrictions.
This is expected to mean that from so-called “freedom day” on July 19, face masks will not be mandatory in many places, while social-distancing restrictions will be removed in pubs and restaurants.
And Faversham MP Helen Whately, who is also the Minister for social care, says she is excited to walk around without a covering – but stresses she will continue to be vigilant.
Speaking to Sky News today, the Conservative said: “I, like others, have followed the guidance on when you should or shouldn’t wear them.
“We’re looking forward to not having to wear one in so many circumstances.
“We’re going to ask people to take personal responsibility on choices like that.
“Like many others, I can’t wait to not wear a mask, but I will be cautious and try to make the right judgements and follow guidance on this.”
Mr Johnson is widely expected to announce the end of the one metre-plus rule in hospitality venues, while the work-from-home order is also set to be scrapped.
The Conservative leader said this morning “we must all continue to carefully manage the risks from Covid and exercise judgment when going about our lives”.
Mrs Whately believes mask-wearing is likely to continue in health and social care settings, “where people will need to continue to wear PPE”.
She also admitted that the government is expecting infections to continue to rise after rules are relaxed in a fortnight’s time.
“We anticipate that we will continue to see infections rise as we open up more, as people are going about life more like normal,” she added.
“The vaccination programme has weakened the link between people catching Covid and ending up in hospital.
“We’re in a position where 86% of adults have had their first dose, 63% have had their second dose.
“We expect by July 19 it’ll be over two-thirds of the adult population having had their second dose.”
Despite this, Prof Stephen Reicher, of the Scientific Pandemic Insights Group on Behaviours (Spi-B), has called for the continuation of “support and proportionate mitigations to keep us safe” from the virus.
"I think in certain spaces – crowded, badly ventilated spaces – masks are crucial mitigation..."
When asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme if he was more concerned about the government’s messaging around the pandemic or the requirement to wear face masks potentially being dropped, he said: “I think both.
“I think we need very clear messaging and I think in certain spaces – crowded, badly ventilated spaces – masks are crucial mitigation.
“Not lockdown, but support and proportionate mitigations to keep us safe. Along with the vaccine, that’s the way out.”
The package of measures announced later today is expected to mean that mass events, including festivals, will be allowed to go ahead.
The government will also publish the results of its reviews into the use of so-called vaccine passports and the future of social distancing guidance.
Officials say Mr Johnson will provide an update on care home visits.
Mrs Whately does not expect care home visits to “completely go back to normal” as “there will still have to be some precautions”.
"It's step by step getting things as close to normal as we can, while still protecting those at greater risk of Covid," she added.
