Pandemic not over, Johnson warns as England set for rule easing 12 Jul 2021 - 0:39 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a news conference for England's COVID-19 lockdown easing announcement in London, Britain July 5, 2021. Daniel Leal-Olivas/Pool via REUTERS Reuters LONDON - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will urge caution on Monday as he is expected to confirm plans to remove nearly all remaining COVID-19 restrictions in England from July 19, despite a surge of cases to levels unseen for months. Earlier this week Johnson set out proposals to eliminate rules on mask-wearing and social contact, and the instruction to work from home, on what he has called a "one-way road to freedom".