Headlines

• There will be a four week pause at step 3, until 19 July.
• Relevant regulations will be extended until the end of Sunday 18 July.
• The data will be continuously reviewed and assessed against the four tests.
• An announcement on proceeding with this new date will happen no later than 12 July.
• If the data is better than expected in a couple of weeks, the Government may be in a position to move to step 4 earlier than 19 July.

What you can and can’t do

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do#if-youre-in-an-area-where-the-new-covid-19-variant-is-spreading

Life events

• From 21 June, the rules on the number of people who can attend a wedding or civil partnership; a wedding reception or civil partnership, and a commemorative event following a funeral such as a wake, stone setting or ash scattering, will change.
• The number of people who can attend these events in a Covid-Secure venue or other venue (such as a garden of a private home) will be determined by how many people a venue can safely accommodate with social distancing measures in place, including guests of all ages and anyone working at the event.
• Further guidance can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do?priority-taxon=774cee22-d896-44c1-a611-e3109cce8eae#weddings-and-civil-partnership-ceremonies-and-receptions

Large events

• Another phase of events pilots will be run for large events, including to test certification.
• This will see approximately 10-15 large events (some over multiple days) permitted post-21 June at higher capacities with attendees demonstrating Covid status.
• The list of events will be published on GOV.UK

Residential visits

• Guidance will be amended to allow out of school settings (eg Scouts, Girl Guides etc) to organise residential visits in ‘bubbles’ of up to 30 children.
• This is an increase from the current limit of six or two households, and aligns with the current position for schools.

Vaccinations

• A first vaccine dose will have been offered to all adults by w/c 19 July.
• All over-40s who had their first dose by mid-May will be offered their second dose by w/c19 July.

Adult social care

• Need to isolate after visits out or on an admission will be removed, as will the requirement for residents to isolate for 14 days after visits out (with the exception of overnight stays in hospital, or a visit which is deemed high risk by the care home).
• Need to isolate following admission from the community will also be removed (subject to criteria specified in the guidance and as long as daily PHE testing protocol continues).
• All residents can nominate an Essential Care Giver (ECG) for any purpose or care need (rather than only where the purpose or care need cannot easily be provided by care home staff), and permit visits from ECGs during periods of isolation.

Enhanced response

• Additional support is to be introduced in key areas affected by high levels of the Delta variant, including Cheshire East; Cheshire West and Chester; Liverpool City Region; Warrington; Birmingham; and Blackpool. This follows the introduction of further support in Greater Manchester and Lancashire last week.
• The support package aims to supress the spread of the Delta variant and break chains of transmission. This approach has been working in parts of London and in Bolton, stopping a rise in the number of cases.