The current rules about social distancing and wearing masks in shops could end for good on June 21.
The National Economy Recovery Taskforce has discussed a “maximalist” approach to lifting “non-pharmaceutical interventions” like masks and staying apart everywhere except for a small list of confined places, The Sun reported.
While masks are likely to remain in place on public transport, people may no longer be fined for not doing so.
An insider told the newspaper: “The current thinking points to social distancing going and mask wearing only in limited settings like buses, trains and the Tube.
“Obviously this is all dependent on final sign-off but the data is looking good and the political will is there for a proper lift-off.”
Kensington Conservative MP Felicity Buchan stressed to the Prime Minister during a Covid statement in the Commons that the capital’s economy had been hard hit by the lockdowns.
She urged him to confirm the “plan is to lift the work-at-home guidance as of June 21 providing we stay on track”.
Mr Johnson replied: “That is certainly our intention provided we stay on track but ... we’ll wait until we’re able to say that with more clarity a bit later on, because we must be guided by what’s happening with the pandemic ... It does depend on keeping the virus down.”
The city is now seeing a gradual return to offices and other workplaces, with trains and Tube significantly more busy than during early spring.
However, many businesses in central areas have struggled to survive, as trade dried up with so few people heading into town.
