Looks like the British Government is changing the goalposts again..
Self-isolation will not be dropped for the double-jabbed and children who are 'pinged' until AUGUST 16 as Sajid Javid says 'wall of protection' from vaccines means government can 'look afresh' at rules
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9760701/Self-isolation-not-dropped-double-jabbed-AUGUST-16.html
Millions more healthy people face putting their lives on hold after Sajid Javid revealed the requirement for the double-jabbed to self-isolate will not be dropped until August 16.
The Health Secretary said the 'protective wall' thrown up by the vaccine drive meant that ministers can 'look afresh' at rules when people are 'pinged' for contact with an infected individual.
From the middle of next month people who have received two doses - with the second administered at least two weeks previously - can take PCR tests rather than self-isolating. Under-18s will also not be subject to the restrictions from the same date.
But the timetable is far slower than many had hoped, and potentially means huge numbers of people will be caught after 'Freedom Day' on July 19. Mr Javid told the Commons that he had looked at changing the system earlier, but was 'more comfortable' waiting until even more people were vaccinated.
The dramatic news came after Mr Javid admitted coronavirus cases could top 100,000 a day by the summer as the government pushes ahead with the unlocking.
He gave the grim figure as he insisted Boris Johnson is right to continue with the dramatic endpoint on July 19, saying the hospitalisations and deaths were what mattered.
The PM was also given a boost this morning as 'Professor Lockdown' Neil Ferguson said he is 'optimistic' the 'gamble' of releasing restrictions will work - although he cautioned that cases could hit 200,000 a day and they might need to be reimposed if vaccines are slightly less effective than hoped and deaths surge.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is also due to set out proposals for scrapping school 'bubble' rules that have been causing huge numbers to stay away from classes.
Mr Javid said that by 'Freedom Day' he expects daily cases to reach 50,000 - nearly double the current level.
'As we ease and go into the summer we expect them to rise significantly and they could go as high as 100,000 case numbers,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
'We want to be very straightforward about this… but what matters more than anything is hospitalisation and death numbers. That is where the link has been severely weakened.'
Last night Mr Johnson signalled a 'big bang' end to lockdown on July 19, saying it was now or never for a return to normality despite the pandemic being 'far from over'.
He claimed further delay would run the risk of trying to reopen in autumn or winter when 'the virus has an edge'.
And at a sombre Downing Street press conference, Mr Johnson warned against going 'demob happy' at the ending of most coronavirus restrictions on July 19.
And he toned down previous pledges that the path out of lockdown would be 'irreversible' – with restrictions potentially returning and 'contingency' powers kept in reserve. A final decision on whether to press ahead on July 19 will be taken at the start of next week but seems almost certain to be approved.
Dropping the curbs will mean the end of all legal limits on socialising, which have wrecked family gatherings for 16 months, and the scrapping of social distancing rules that have hobbled pubs, restaurants and the arts.