Wedding receptions of up to 30 people will no longer be allowed from August 1 after a surge in coronavirus infections nationally. The further easing of lockdown restrictions, including the reopening of bowling alleys and casinos, is being postponed for at least two weeks, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

He told a Downing Street press conference: ‘Until August 15, at the earliest, casinos, bowling alleys, skating rinks and the remaining close contact services must remain closed.

‘Indoor performances will not resume, pilots of larger crowds in sport venues and conference centres will not take place and wedding receptions of up to 30 people will not be permitted, but ceremonies, of course, can continue to take place in line with Covid secure guidelines.’

Tomorrow marked a new phase in the UK’s plan for returning to normal, with more high risk venues allowed to reopen and small wedding parties allowed to go ahead.

The PM said he knew pushing this back would be a ‘real blow to many people’ but that the governnment ‘could not take the risk’.

The delay comes after a weekly survey by the ONS reported that the prevelance of the virus in the community in England is likely to be rising for the first time since May.

Around one in 1,500 now have the virus compared to one in 1,800 on July 15 and one in 2,000 on July 2.

The ONS also estimate that there are now 4,900 new infections every day up from around 3,000 a day on July 14 and 2,000 a day at the end of June.

Boris Johnson said he could ‘not afford to ignore the evidence’. However he said guidance allowing employers more discretion over the return to the work place, coming in force tomorrow, remains unchanged.

The national pause on shielding will also go head, with more advice on why that is expected later today.