People who are fully vaccinated will not have to self-isolate if they are a close contact of a coronavirus case from August 16, Sajid Javid has said.

The announcement comes after Boris Johnson announced plans to lift all legal lockdown restrictions will end, including mask-wearing, social distancing and nightclub closures at Step 4 of the Government’s plan to ease England’s lockdown.

The so-called “Freedom Day” is expected on July 19, with a decision on whether or not to go ahead being taken a week earlier.

The Prime Minister outlined his intentions to end lockdown when he addressed the nation during a Downing Street press conference on Monday.

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Health Secretary Sajid Javid, making a statement to the Commons, said: “I understand that some people are cautious about their idea of easing restrictions, but we must balance the risks – the risks of a virus that has diminished but not defeated, against the risks of keeping these restrictions and the health, social and economic hardship that we know they bring.

“This pandemic is far from over and we will continue to proceed with caution.

“But we’re increasingly confident that our plan is working and that we can soon begin a new chapter based on the foundations of personal responsibility and common sense rather than the blunt instrument of rules and regulations.”

Mr Javid added: “We will soon be able to take a risk-based approach that recognises the huge benefits that the vaccines provide both to people who get the jab and their loved ones too.

“So from 16 August when even more people will have the protection of both doses, and when modelling suggests the risks from the virus will be even lower, anyone who’s a close contact of a positive case will no longer have to self-isolate if they have been fully vaccinated.

“If someone gets their second dose just before or just after 16 August, they’ll need to wait two weeks, after which their second jab can take effect and give them these new freedoms.”

Sajid Javid said: “We’ll be drawing on the huge capacity we’ve built for testing and sequencing and advising close contacts who are fully vaccinated to take a PCR test as soon as possible so they can get certainty about their condition.”

“And of course anyone that tests positive will have to self-isolate whether they have had the jab or not.”

He added: “This new approach means that we can manage the virus in a way that’s proportionate to the pandemic while maintaining the freedoms that are so important to us all.”

The health secretary confirmed the ruling will apply for under-18s too.

He said: “Step by step, jab by jab, we’re replacing the temporary protection of the restrictions with the long-term protection of the vaccine so we can restore the freedoms which we cherish and the experiences that mean so much for us all.”