Boris Johnson has urged significant caution as he confirmed plans for reopening in England, following warnings from government scientists that the growth in Covid infections amid mass unlocking could lead to hospitalisation rates similar to the winter peak. At a press conference in Downing Street he said: It is absolutely vital that we proceed now with caution. And I cannot say this powerfully or emphatically enough. This pandemic is not over. This disease coronavirus continues to carry risks for you and for your family. We cannot simply revert instantly from Monday 19 July to life as it was before Covid. We will stick to our plan to lift legal restrictions and to lift social distancing, but we expect and recommend that people wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you come into contact with those you don’t normally meet, such as on public transport We’re removing the government instruction to work from home where you can but we don’t expect that the whole country will return to their as one desks from Monday. And we’re setting out guidance for business for a gradual return to work over the summer. Sage, the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, has said hospital admissions are likely to reach at least 1,000 per day in the summer following the lifting of most remaining Covid restrictions for England. And it has also said the anticipated rise in Covid cases, combined with high level of vaccination, “creates the conditions in which an immune escape variant is most likely to emerge”. If this were to happen, it would pose a risk to health around the world, Sage says. (See 5.03pm.) Large indoor venues in England will be urged to check the Covid status of their customers on entry this summer, while prevalence of the virus is high, the health secretary, Sajid Javid, has announced. MPs will be allowed to cram into the House of Commons chamber next week for the first “full capacity” session of prime minister’s questions since the Covid pandemic began. And, as HuffPost’s Paul Waugh reports, Commons staff have complained that they will have to wear masks on the parliamentary estate next week, while for MPs they will be voluntary. Johnson and Priti Patel have been accused of hypocrisy over their stance on racism in football, after they condemned the abuse of three black England players but previously refused to criticise fans who booed the team for taking the knee. That’s all from me for tonight. But our coronavirus coverage continues on our global live blog. It’s here.