On Monday 14 June the Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that there would be a four week delay in lifting the current restrictions in England. Restrictions were due to ease on Monday 21 June.

Johnson blames the spread of the delta variant for putting a pause on opening up further and recommends that if more people can be vaccinated it will ensure it is safer to reopen society. However, there are some changes that will still go ahead:

• Weddings no longer have a limit of 30 guests, as long as guests remember to follow social distancing measures and there are risk assessments in place to ensure this.
• Care home residents will not necessarily have to self-isolate after leaving their care homes and they can nominate an 'essential caregiver' who can visit, even if they are self-isolating.
• Pilot events will continue which will see further Euro 2020 games go ahead.
• Children can go on overnight trips in groups of 30 with, for example, the Scouts.
   

Rules still vary between nations and there are areas of England including Birmingham, Blackpool, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Liverpool City Region and Warrington where people living there are being urged not to travel.

What does it mean for students?

A question was asked at the press conference if there would be a priority vaccination for students attending University in September so they could be double-jabbed. Johnson replied that they would continue to follow the age bracket model and if they could do anything to accelerate the programme they would.

Universities remain open and students are being advised to follow the Covid-Safe guidance.

You are also recommended to test regularly.