LIVE: Boris Johnson confirms the end of Covid restrictions in England at Downing Street press conference

The Prime Minister warned that coronavirus infections will rise as he prepared to announce the lifting of restrictions from July 19.

Ahead of a press conference this afternoon, he said England was ‘tantalisingly close’ to restoring its freedoms.

Ministers have concluded that the four tests set for unlocking – the success of the vaccine rollout, evidence that vaccines are causing a reduction in hospital admissions and deaths, that infection rates do not risk a surge in admissions, and that no new variants of concern throw progress off track – are being met, allowing Step 4 of the road map to proceed.

But his comments came as arguments continued over plans to remove legal requirements to wear face coverings, with one expert adviser to the Government saying it is clear that masks “greatly reduce transmission”.

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