Boris Johnson has confirmed plans to end most Covid restrictions next Monday, despite a rise in cases, but people should not ditch their face masks just yet.

The PM hosted a press conference this afternoon where he set out the next stage of unlocking.

Last Monday, Mr Johnson said on July 19 the country would move to Step 4 of the plan to lift measures, including ending the legal requirement to wear masks.

Face masks will no longer be required in most settings – although should continue to be worn in crowded indoor spaces – with social distancing rules removed for pubs and restaurants, allowing nightclubs to reopen.

There will no longer be restrictions on the number of people inside and outside at venues and events such as theatres and festivals and bubbles at schools will be removed.

The work from home rule will also be lifted, as will the limits on named visitors to care homes. International travel will also be opened up, with people visiting amber list countries no longer having to self isolate.

But Mr Johnson also warned cases would rise as rules designed to suppress the coronavirus are removed.

Downing Street previously said the unlocking would be based on four tests:

1. The success of the vaccine rollout
2. Evidence that the vaccine is causing a reduction in hospital admissions and deaths
3. That infection rates do not risk a surge in admissions
4. That no new variants of concern throw progress off track.

Earlier, the PM said: “We are tantalisingly close to the final milestone in our road map out of lockdown, but the plan to restore our freedoms must come with a warning.

“While the phenomenal vaccine rollout has offered every adult some protection against the virus, and the crucial link between cases, hospitalisations and deaths is weakened, the global pandemic is not over yet.

“Cases will rise as we unlock, so as we confirm our plans today, our message will be clear.

"Caution is absolutely vital, and we must all take responsibility so we don’t undo our progress, ensuring we continue to protect our NHS.”

In Kent, the spread of the Delta variant has led to a number of outbreaks, with almost 3,000 new cases in the most recent week – 1,069 more than the week before.

Despite cases across the county rising by 55% in a week, the number of people in Kent's hospitals with Covid remains extremely low.

Nationally, as of 9am on Sunday, there had been a further 31,772 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases in the UK, the Government said.

A further 26 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Saturday, bringing the UK total to 128,425.

Moving to Step 4 was delayed by four weeks to ensure all adults had been offered a vaccine.

The dose interval for under 40s has been reduced from 12 weeks to eight, so everyone over 18 should be double-jabbed by the middle of September

Government data up to July 10 shows that of the 80,646,232 Covid jabs given in the UK so far, 45,881,721 were first doses, a rise of 93,763 on the previous day. Some 34,764,511 were second doses, an increase of 211,446.

In Kent, 2.17 million jabs have been dished out, with 54.6% of the county's 18 to 24-year-olds having received their first jab, as of July 4. Such has been the success of the roll-out that large-scale vaccination centres in Tonbridge and Gravesend are set to close in the coming weeks.

Analysis from Public Health England (PHE) and the University of Cambridge suggests that vaccines have so far prevented an estimated 8.5 million infections and 30,000 deaths in England alone.

The next stage of lifting measures is seen as a further step towards normality and moving out of the pandemic.

Downing Street said the delay had meant the end of restrictions would be closer to the school holidays, where transmission rates are expected to be lower.

On the other hand, it is argued that reopening later in the year could put more pressure on the NHS as the health service contends with other illnesses such as flu.

On Sunday, Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi told The Andrew Marr Show on the BBC that the NHS was planning to administer a Covid vaccine boost from early September at the same time as flu jabs.

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