Hopes for a 22 June reopening dashed at 5pm briefing

The 4 July has been confirmed as the date for pubs, bars and restaurants to be allowed to reopen, business secretary Alok Sharma has announced. Speculation had been mounting that that date would be bought forward to 22 June after positive noises from the PM and press reports over the weekend. However, the business secretary quashed the speculation at the government’s 5pm briefing and specified the 4 July would “be the earliest”.