In full: Boris Johnson announces delay to June 21 lockdown lifting at Downing St conference

Boris Johnson has announced that the final stage of England's reopening from lockdown will be delayed by four weeks after fears that the NHS could be overwhelmed by the new Covid case wave.

The Prime Minister said the restrictions that had been due to lift on June 21 will not end until July 19 amid growing alarm at the spread of the Indian or delta variant.

It means social distancing rules, wearing face masks, sitting in groups of no more than six inside and 30 outside and keeping nightclubs shut remain in force for now.

But there are some exemptions, with the 30-person attendee limit on weddings to lift and no new explicit maximum. Instead, individual venues will have their own Covid-secure capacity limits.

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