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Written question asked by Julian Sturdy (Conservative) on Tuesday, 20 April 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 22 April 2021. It was answered by Penny Mordaunt (Conservative) on Wednesday, 28 April 2021 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

Coronavirus: Social Distancing

Question

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the level of covid-19 antibodies in the population that would be necessary to enable the Government to lift all legal limits on social contact from 21 June 2021.

Answer

In the Government’s Roadmap - ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’ - we set out four steps for easing restrictions. The Government aims to lift social contact limits at Step 4, which will happen no earlier than 21 June.

The dates for these steps are indicative “no earlier than” dates, which are five weeks apart and wholly contingent on the data and subject to change. Before moving to Step 4 and lifting legal social contact limits, the Government will examine the impact of the previous Step 3 and the four tests:

  • The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully

  • Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated

  • Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS

  • Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
184432
Session
2019-21
Grouped for answer
Yes
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Coronavirus Social distancing
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk