Face masks will no longer be legally required and distancing rules will be scrapped at the final stage of England's Covid lockdown roadmap, Boris Johnson announced this evening (5th).

The PM said he is confident enough to go ahead with relaxing a majority of coronavirus restrictions later this month.

During a press conference, Mr Johnson said people would have to learn to live with the virus like the flu.

He said:

"Our expectation remains that by July, 19th, every adult will have had the chance to receive the first dose, and two thirds will have received their second dose," [of the vaccine] he said, commenting that the pandemic was "far from over."

It was said that 50,000 daily cases are being predicted by July 19th.

He continued:

"We have to balance the risks of the disease – which the vaccines have reduced but very far from eliminated – and the risks of continuing with legally enforced restrictions that inevitably take their toll on people's lives and livelihoods, on people's health and mental health.

"We must be honest with ourselves that if we can't reopen our society in the next few weeks – when we will be helped by the arrival of summer, and by the school holidays – then we must ask ourselves, when will we be able to return to normal?"

The changes will include:

• The end of one metre-plus social distancing.

• No need to wear masks indoors, in shops, and on public transport.

• The limits on visitors to care homes will be lifted.

• The legal limits on people meeting indoors and outdoors will be removed.

• All businesses will be allowed to reopen, including nightclubs.

• The request to work from home where possible will also be scrapped.

• No COVID certificate will be required to enter any venue or event – though businesses may choose to require some way to show COVID status.

However, self-isolation, restrictions on travel, and rules governing how schools react to positive cases will not yet end.

The measures come as the UK reports 37,334 new coronavirus cases, but just nine deaths across the country.

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