From Today, we can move closer towards our normal way of life, as we move to Step 3 of our Roadmap. Some coronavirus restrictions are being lifted across England with more of the indoor and remaining outdoor economy reopening, limits on social gatherings increasing, and travel restrictions within the UK and to green list countries lifting. To find out what you can and cannot do in step 3, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do.
The Prime Minister has urged people to act with caution as we take the next step in our roadmap out of lockdown today, because the choices we each make have an effect on the road ahead. Everyone must play their part - by getting tested twice a week, coming forward for your vaccine when called and remembering hands, face, space and fresh air – and to be cautious and take responsibility when enjoying new freedoms today in order to keep the virus at bay.
We are keeping the spread of the variant first identified in India under close observation and taking swift action where infection rates are rising. That is why we are supporting targeted new activity to accelerate vaccine uptake amongst eligible cohorts and introducing additional surge testing for residents to contain cases of the B1.617.2 variant.
We want to make sure that we keep the public safe and keep our roadmap on track. We took precautionary action to ban travel from India on 23 April, six days before this variant was put under investigation and two weeks before it was labelled as of concern. Prior to India being placed on the red list in April, anyone coming to the UK had to test negative and quarantine for 10 days.
The current data does not indicate unsustainable pressure on the NHS and our extraordinary vaccination programme will accelerate - with second doses being bought forward to give the most vulnerable maximum protection.
More than 20 million UK adults receive both doses of COVID-19 vaccine
Over 20 million people have now received their second vaccine dose, marking a huge milestone in our fight against the virus as we continue at pace to roll out the vaccine to every corner of the UK.
Thanks to the monumental efforts of everyone involved, our vaccination programme is continuing to make incredible strides in delivering life-saving protection. We have now administered more than 56 million vaccines across the UK, including over 36 million first doses and 20 million second doses - and we remain on track to offer a vaccine to all adults by the end of July.
While the British people are responding incredibly to our call to get the vaccine, the work is not done yet, and we urge everyone to get their jab as soon as they are offered it.
For more information on the vaccine rollout following the milestone of over 20 million people receiving their second vaccine dose, including comments from the Health and Social Care Secretary and the Vaccines Minister, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-than-20-million-uk-adults-receive-both-doses-of-covid-19-vaccine.
Summit to build global confidence in vaccines to be convened by the UK Government
This weekend the Government announced the UK will host the world’s first ever Global Vaccine Confidence Summit, building on our continuing efforts to drive vaccine uptake in the fight against the COVID.
The UK is working throughout our G7 Presidency this year to improve access to coronavirus vaccines, treatments and tests around the world, and vaccine confidence is a key part of that effort.
Speakers at our Global Vaccine Confidence Summit - a one-day event - will include Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock and scientific and medical experts, with more to be announced in the coming weeks. They will discuss ways the governments, civil society and private sector – including social media companies – can tackle vaccine misinformation and amplify messages of vaccine confidence.
For more information on the summit to build global confidence in vaccines, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/summit-to-build-global-confidence-in-vaccines-to-be-convened-by-the-uk-government.
