‘Freedom Day’? What will the Covid rules be from July 19

rime Minister Boris Johnson has announced the final easing of lockdown measures on July 19, with a four-week delay announced on Monday buying more time for people to receive vaccinations.

However, there will be a limited relaxation of rules in some areas sooner than July 19.

Here are the rules of what you can and can’t do:

Working from home where possible will continue to be advised, nightclubs will stay shuttered and legal limits on social contact will remain in place.

The cap of 30 guests for wedding ceremonies and receptions will be lifted, the Prime Minister has confirmed.

As with current rules for funerals, the number of attendees will be determined by how many people the venue can safely accommodate with social distancing measures in place.

However, food and drink must be ordered, served and consumed by guests seated at a table, and dancing indoors is still not permitted, except for the couple’s first dance.

Care home residents will be permitted to stay overnight with friends and family, from Monday, June 21, without needing to quarantine for 14 days on return to their residences.

All legal limits on social contact are expected to be dropped.

That means people will be allowed to meet in groups of any size, while nightclubs will be open reopen. Major events like music festivals will also be given the green light.

Pubs and restaurants will also be able to operate as they did pre-pandemic, without the need for table service only.

Big West End productions had expected to be opening, with packed stalls, but the delay means they too will have to continue to operate with social distancing restrictions.

But Boris Johnson hinted he could allow the show to go on as a pilot scheme. He told a Downing St briefing: “I think we’re in talks with him to try to make it work and we’ll do whatever we can to be helpful.”

Lord Lloyd-Webber said he was “surprised” but “pleased” to hear Mr Johnson’s comments.

The “green list” of countries has not changed.

Portugal was removed from the “green list” by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps earlier in June, prompting many in the travel industry to fear that overseas holidays were looking increasingly unlikely.

Asked if overseas holidays were now unlikely, the prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “Our view is not to preempt the data. We have a process whereby the JBC [Joint Biosecurity Centre] consider what is safe. And should countries be able to go on the green list they will do so.”

The Freedom Day delay means nightclubs will stay closed and capacity limits will remain on live music venues – many of which are yet to reopen.

Music festivals are also now in further peril as organisers must decide whether to risk going ahead with plans for after July 19 without a government-backed insurance scheme.

Some events have pulled the plug after the delay was confirmed; Henley Festival’s Summer Fling – due to take place between 8-10 July – announced it was cancelled.

Jo Bausor, CEO of Henley Festival, said: “We are all incredibly disappointed but we have to comply with Government regulations and the safety of our guests and the wider public has always been our priority.”

Singer-songwriter Frank Turner warned the delay to the end of lockdown will tip some music businesses into “final collapse”.

From July 19 UK festivals and gigs are pencilled in to open their doors to capacity crowds again.

The delay announced by Boris Johnson will apply to England only.

Mark Drakeford first minister of Wales said: “I will be setting out the position in Wales in my press conference on Friday. Thank you for continuing to keep Wales safe.”

But Scotland is “unlikely” to move to Level 0 from June 28, Nicola Sturgeon has said expecting a three-week delay.

In Northern Ireland, June 21 has been given as an “indicative date” for a number of changes subject to a review on June 17.