BREAKING What you can and can’t do from ‘Freedom Day’ on July 19 – including new mask rules

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed the vast majority of England’s coronavirus restrictions will end next Monday (July 19) – but warned the deadly pandemic is by no means over.

Speaking from No.10 Downing Street to confirm his plans for ‘Freedom Day’ next week, Boris admitted that moving to Step 4 of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown did not come without risks.

“There is no easy answer and no obvious date for unlocking. We have cases rising significantly and we can see what is happening across Europe as the Delta variant takes hold,” he said.

“We now know that if we were to delay this fourth step then we would be reopening as the weather gets colder, and as the virus gets a greater natural advantage and schools start to go back.

“But it is absolutely vital that we proceed now with caution. I cannot say this emphatically enough: This pandemic is not over.”

Speaking earlier on Monday ahead of the Downing Street press conference, the PM said England is “tantalisingly close” to restoring its freedoms.

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”.

So what will life look like in England after so-called “freedom day”? Fortunately, the Daily Star has all the answers to your burning Covid questions.

– What measures are going?

It is official: those omnipresent two-metre warning signs can be taken down next week, because social distancing is being scrapped.

The decision paves the way for groups of more than six people from multiple households to hang out indoors, and for nightclubs to get the smoke machines back on.

And it means that yes, you can queue up at the bar for a pint at long last, instead of needing to fiddle about on an app for 10 minutes.

– Can we all bin our face masks as well?

Legally, yes. But Boris Johnson has been clear that the UK Government expects and recommends face coverings to be worn in crowded areas, such as public transport.

The idea behind this is to keep a lid on infections taking place in less well-ventilated areas.

But there will be no legally enforceable penalties for not doing so after Monday.

– What if the nightclub dance floor is packed – have we got to wear masks then?

No, you can dance with your face on full show.

Instead of mask-wearing in such settings, the Government is recommending that businesses and large events use “certification” as a basis of entry to venues deemed “high risk”, especially when prevalence of coronavirus is high as it is currently.

The risk of other, more infectious variants, also remains high, so it is expected that more changes may eventually be needed to the hospitality industry.

– Wait a minute, isn’t this what vaccine passports were all about?

Pretty much, except it will not be mandatory, only recommended.

To gain entry to venues choosing to go down the certification route, punters must be able to show proof of having been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior, evidence of a negative lateral flow test in the past two days, or a positive PCR test in the past six months to confirm a level of immunity to Covid-19.

– What about if I just want to go to the pub, will I need a vaccine passport then?

Unfortunately, the clearest answer can van give you is: Possibly.

The Government is not being prescriptive about what venues fit its description, so it will be up to venue management or landlords themselves to decide whether vaccine passports are necessary to guarantee the safety of staff and patrons.

– Does the fact that people will be required to show proof of a negative test mean NHS Test and Trace will remain in place?

That’s right, the app is going nowhere.

And the side-effect of that is that you will still be able to be “pinged” by the contact tracing app and will have to self-isolate if NHS Test and Trace finds you have been in close contact with a positive case.

However, that requirement will be abolished on August 16 for those double jabbed and those who are under the age of 18.

Testing will still be available after July 19, while hotel quarantine will continue to be enforced for those UK residents travelling back from red listed countries.

– If masks and self-isolation are staying, can we at least work from home still?

That will not be the advice coming from Government.

The guidance will be for everyone to return to their workplace, but just not all at once. Downing Street is recommending a gradual return over the summer.