BORIS Johnson last night warned Brits to enjoy their new freedoms but take it with a big dose of “caution”.
In a major milestone on the road to normality, hugs are allowed again and pubs and restaurants can reopen indoors.
Early research coming out of Oxford University found the vaccines are “highly effective” against Indian Covid.
Jabs will be rolled out to everyone aged 35 and over this week in an all-out effort to stop a new wave derailing the roadmap out of lockdown.
Striking a sombre tone, the PM said he will push ahead with today’s easing of restrictions – but all Brits “must play their part” and be responsible.
He said: “Together we have reached another milestone in our roadmap out of lockdown, but we must take this next step with a heavy dose of caution.
“We are keeping the spread of the variant first identified in India under close observation and taking swift action where infection rates are rising.”
He vowed to “accelerate” Britain’s “extraordinary vaccination programme” so more are protected against the bug.
Bojo added: “But now everyone must play their part – by getting tested twice a week, coming forward for your vaccine when called and remembering hands, face, space and fresh air.
“I urge everyone to be cautious and take responsibility when enjoying new freedoms today in order to keep the virus at bay.” Piling in, Matt Hancock also told Brits to be “careful and cautious”.
Even though the holiday ban is lifted, nobody should be jetting abroad to countries on the ‘amber’ or ‘red’ travel list – which makes up nearly the entire world – he gloomily said.
Britain faces a precarious moment as the Indian variant can spread like “wildfire” across unvaccinated groups, he said.
A deluge of extra tests and vaccines are being surged to hotspots to try to stamp out the clusters of infections.
Encouraging early studies suggest the vaccines work against Indian Covid – putting the UK in a great position to see off the invader, Mr Hancock said.
The “vast majority” of people sick with Indian Covid in hotspot Bolton were eligible for the jab but have not had it, he added.
He told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday the data “gives us a degree of confidence that the vaccines work against this Indian variant”.
He added: “We are in a race between the vaccination programme and the virus and this new variant has given the virus some extra legs in that race but the vaccine will still, we have a high degree of confidence that the vaccine will overcome.”
Oxford University Regius Professor of Medicine Sir John Bell also said the vaccines look like they work on the strain.
He told Times Radio: “So in terms of severe disease, hospital admissions and death, I think the vaccinated population are going to be fine and we just need to pump our way through this.”
But he also chucked cold water over hopes much of Europe will end up on the green quarantine free travel list this summer.
He said he does not reckon “anybody’s going on holiday” outside the UK because of the risk of variants.
Meanwhile, Professor Robert Dingwall, who sits on a subgroup of Sage, told anxious Brits to “keep calm and carry on”.
He told Trending In The News: “We now have emerging evidence that the vaccines are as protective against the Indian variant as they are against others that have appeared.
“In fact, somewhere between 70 and 80 per cent of people now have a significant level of immunity because of the vaccines or previous infection.
“This is a completely different situation to last Spring, or even to the beginning of January.
“We have to stop being scared by every variant that comes along.
“People are not going to die in the numbers that they have previously and we should be confident in that.
“We should look at what the vaccines are achieving, rather than what the models are suggesting.”
Ministers have “piled” in extra vaccines and tests to Indian Covid hotspots like Bolton and Blackburn.
Covid “hit squads” are going door to door urging everyone to get the jab.
And local leaders in Bolton invited everyone over 18 to get a vaccination at emergency centres which have sprung up across the town.
A final decision on whether the June 21 ‘Big Bang’ unlocking can go ahead will be taken on June 14.
