COVID-19: ‘Unprecedented and remarkable’ change needed to derail 19 July ‘terminus date’, Michael Gove says

19 July is the “terminus date” for England’s remaining coronavirus restrictions and it would take an “unprecedented and remarkable” change in circumstances to derail that, Michael Gove has told Sky News.

The Cabinet Office minister was speaking after Boris Johnson announced a delay to step four in England’s roadmap out of COVID-19 measures, pushing back the hoped for 21 June “Freedom Day”.

It comes after the prime minister said the postponement of step four of the government’s roadmap for England would allow for more people to receive their second jab before further easing of restrictions takes place.

The proposed extension will be reviewed to see if action can be taken two weeks sooner on Monday 5 July.

However, Mr Johnson did announce some changes, scrapping the 30-person limit on weddings from 21 June as planned and removing the requirement for care home residents to quarantine for 14 days after day trips.

The decision to delay has attracted criticism from several Tory MPs, with Steve Baker, a member of the COVID Recovery Group (CRG) of Conservative backbench MPs saying the public must “see true freedom again”.

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