What are the June 21 Covid lockdown rule changes and how will restrictions affect weddings and care homes?
Sign up to our newsletter Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice  Today (June 21) should have been Freedom Day  the day in which all lockdown restrictions and legal limits on social contact are lifted in England. However, coronavirus restrictions are staying in place for now due to widespread concern over the spread of the Delta variant within the UK. Cases of the Delta variant have been growing by around 64% per week , according to the BBC. READ MORE: Pub shuts after staff get Covid  In Stoke-on-Trent, 19 out of 20 cases are now attributed to the new variant. Currently, the Delta variant is the most transmissible form of the virus, and is associated with significantly higher rates of hospitalisation, according to the Public Health England. However, the UK Government has assured the public that vaccines are still highly effective against this strain. Care home restrictions havent changed. In England, care home residents can still nominate five people who are permitted to visit them regularly, with no more than two people permitted to visit at one time, or in one day. Residents are also permitted an essential care giver, who will not count towards the daily visitor limit. Nominated visitors are encouraged to take up their vaccine when offered and will be asked to take a lateral flow test before seeing the resident. Care residents are permitted to leave their care home for social reasons (including overnight stays), and will not need to isolate upon their return. Each StokeonTrentLive bulletin delivers the latest breaking news, what's on events and the hottest talking points straight to your inbox. For more information about how - and why - to subscribe, click here. No problem - you can just follow the unsubscribe link. Despite the spread of the Delta variant, the limit has been lifted on the number of people who can attend outside ceremonies. However, venues must comply with social distancing (including providing table service and wearing face coverings when not eating), and dancing and singing are still restricted. Couples must complete risk assessments before holding ceremonies, with fines of up to 10k if they fail to fill out a risk assessment form before the big day.