Leeds Covid restrictions: Boris Johnson announces June 21 unlocking date will not go ahead as planned

The Prime Minister has announced that the planned June 21 coronavirus unlocking date will no longer go ahead.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking at a press conference in 10 Downing Street, London, last year (photo: PA Wire)Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking at a press conference in 10 Downing Street, London, last year (photo: PA Wire)
Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking at a press conference in 10 Downing Street, London, last year (photo: PA Wire)

The new provisional date for all restrictions to ease across England is Monday, July 19.

It is aimed to double jab a third of the adult population by this date, and to have given at least one jab to everyone over the age of 18.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The delay is to give the "NHS a few more crucial weeks to get jabs into arms."

In his Downing Street briefing this evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed his concern about the Delta variant.

He said that cases are rising by 64 per cent each week, and doubling each week in the worst affected areas.

The Prime Minister also added that the average number of hospitalisations are rising by 50 per cent week on week and numbers in ICU are also rising.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: "Now is the time to ease off the accelerator because we have the chance over the next four weeks to save thousands of lives by vaccinating millions of people."

Leeds Chamber president Amanda Beresford said: "There needs to be appropriate support measures available to those sectors and their supply chains still affected.

"Certain sectors of the economy continue to be severely damaged by lockdown, possibly long-term, and all areas of business and industry need to be back up-and-running as soon as possible.

"That said, we understand the difficulties caused by the different emerging variants of the pandemic and the difficult balance between protecting health and supporting the economy.”