PM to confirm 19 July end to Covid rules despite scientists’ warnings

Boris Johnson to press ahead with final stage of unlocking in England amid huge rise in infectionsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageBoris Johnson is to announce that the lifting of most remaining Covid-19 restrictions in England will go ahead on 19 July amid a backlash from government scientific advisers who have warned that doing so would be like building new “variant factories”.Despite cases having risen to their highest level since January 2021, the