Boris Johnson announcement LIVE – PM confirms lockdown lift will happen despite warnings of 1,000 hospitalisations a day

BORIS Johnson tonight begged Brits not to go crazy next week as Covid restrictions are eased – and stressed July 19 should not be “treated as a great jubilee”. 

The PM urged the public to exercise “extreme caution” as the country unlocks fully, warning that hospitalisations could rise this summer. 

Mr Johnson told a Downing Street press conference that the pandemic is “not over” as he said mask use will be advised in crowded and enclosed spaces even after legal controls end.

He said that “the unlocking should not be taken as an invitation by everybody to have a great jubilee”.

The PM said: “It is absolutely vital that we proceed now with caution and I cannot say this powerfully or emphatically enough: this pandemic is not over.

“This disease, coronavirus, continues to carry risks for you and your family.

“We cannot simply revert instantly from Monday July 19 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.”

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