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​Today we heard from PM Boris Johnson as he outlined the next stages of lockdown eases and said the lockdown easing has been "entirely conditional" and points to a decrease in infections.  He added the infection rate fell in June, and infections have been decreasing by 2% and 4% every day.

Mr Johnson says the government doesn't believe there is "currently a risk of a second peak of infections that might overwhelm the NHS" and says we are continuing to meet the five tests for easing lockdown.

The 2 metre Rule

The PM confirmed there will be a further easing of the lockdown from 4 July. Confirming the two-metre social distancing rule will be reduced. There will be a "one-metre-plus" rule, where people will be advised to keep 2m apart where possible, but where it is not, they should keep one metre plus. 

One metre plus means that in circumstances where two metres cannot be kept, there should be other saftey mesaures put in place. This includes wearing a face mask on public transport, hand washing, screens, limiting time with people and being outdoors. 

Meeting with other households

Households will be able to mix with one other household indoors at a time, but households should continue to social distance when inside.  People from two households will also be able to meet outside, regardless of size. Outside, the guidance remains that people from several households can meet in groups of up to six. Mr Johnson has made clear the government is not recommending meetings of multiple households indoors.

Shops, Restaurants, pubs and more

• Shops, restaurants and other retail
  

• Restaurants and pubs will be allowed to reopen on 4 July.
  

• Hairdressers, outdoor gyms and playgrounds, cinemas, museums, libraries and galleries will also reopen.
  

• Indoor gyms, swimming pools, spas and bowling alleys will remain closed.

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Theatres & other arts

• Mr Johnson says the government will work with the arts to enable choirs, orchestras and theatres to resume as soon as possible.

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To read the key points from yesterdays daily coronavirus briefing led by Matt Hancock, click here.

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