Boris Johnson puts faith in the public's common sense on July 19

Boris Johnson is to press ahead with the lifting of Covid rules on July 19 despite increasing pressure last night from some doctors and scientists to delay the move.

The Prime Minister is expected to confirm tomorrow that all restrictions will be removed on 'Freedom Day' in a week, with No 10 sources saying that Mr Johnson trusted in 'the innate good sense of the British people' not to embrace their new liberties 'recklessly'.

The pledge came after the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AMRC) warned yesterday that the number of cases was 'rising dramatically' and the NHS was under unprecedented pressure.

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairwoman of the AMRC, said she was 'profoundly concerned' about removing all restrictions on July 19. 

'There seems to be a misapprehension that life will return to normal from then and that we can throw away all the precautions and, frankly, that would be dangerous,' she said.

But a Government source said: 'It is still full steam ahead, but we are trusting people to behave cautiously.

'There are going to be some difficult days ahead, but it is better that we open up now with the school holidays upon us than when they are back in the classrooms in the autumn.'

Yesterday, the UK recorded 32,367 new Covid cases and 34 deaths. 

Almost 45.8 million people have received the first dose of the vaccine – equivalent to 86.9 per cent of adults, while 65.6 per cent have received both jabs.

Ministers have urged Mr Johnson to let double-jabbed tourists come to the UK from July 19 – or risk devastating the domestic holiday market.