THE 'hibernation' of the British people is coming to an end, says Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Game-changing announcements have been made by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons, who has stated the 2m rule has been altered, and that two households can meet inside.

Boris Johnson told MPs the common sense and perseverance of Britons has “more than justified our faith” in them, as he delivered a Covid-19 statement to the Commons.

He said: “Since I set out our plan on May 11, we have been clear that our cautious relaxation of the guidance is entirely conditional on our continued defeat of the virus.

“In the first half of May, nearly 69,000 people tested positive for Covid-19 across the UK. By the first half of June that total had fallen by nearly 70 per cent to just under 22,000.”

The 2m rule on social distancing will be relaxed to “1m plus” from July 4, with people advised to take other precautions such as wearing face coverings, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

Two households will be allowed to meet indoors, and even stay overnight.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs: “The number of new infections is now declining by between 2 per cent and 4 per cent every day.

“Four weeks ago an average of one in 400 people in the community in England had Covid-19, in the first half of June this figure was one in 1,700.

“We created a human shield around the NHS and in turn our doctors and nurses have protected us, and together we have saved our hospitals from being overwhelmed.”

Hotels, restaurants, pubs, cinemas and hairdressers can reopen from July 4 providing they are “Covid-secure” and theatres and concert halls can open but cannot stage live performances.

But nightclubs, indoor gyms and beauty salons must remain closed “for now”, Mr Johnson said.

Boris Johnson said the fewer social contacts people have, the safer they will be.

He told the Commons: “I’m acutely conscious that people will ask legitimate questions about why certain activities are allowed and others are not.

“And I must ask the House to understand that the virus has no interest in these debates, its only interest, its only ambition is to exploit any opportunities to recapture ground that we might carelessly vacate and to reinfect our communities.

“And so there is only one certainty – the fewer social contacts you have, the safer you will be.”

Boris Johnson added that restaurants and pubs will be allowed to reopen.

He said: “I can tell the House that we will also reopen restaurants and pubs. All hospitality indoors will be limited to table service and our guidance will encourage minimal staff and customer contact.

“We will ask businesses to help NHS Test and Trace respond to any local outbreaks by collecting contact details from customers as happens in other countries and we will work with the sector to make this manageable.”

Boris Johnson added that hairdressers will be allowed to reopen.

Mr Johnson said: “Almost as eagerly awaited as a pint will be a haircut, particularly by me, and so we will reopen hairdressers with appropriate precautions, including the use of visors.

“We also intend to allow some other close contact services such as nail bars to reopen as soon as we can when we are confident that they can operate in a Covid-secure way.

“From July 4, provided that no more than two households stay together, people will be free to stay overnight in self-contained accommodation including hotels and bed and breakfasts, as well as camp sites, as long as shared facilities are kept clean.”

Boris Johnson said that from July 4, two households of any size should be able to meet in any setting.

He said: “From now on, we will ask people to follow guidance on social contact instead of legislation.

“In that spirit, we advise that from July 4, two households of any size should be able to meet in any setting inside or out.

“That does not mean they must always be the same two households, it will be possible for instance to meet one set of grandparents one weekend, the others the following weekend.

“But we are not recommending meetings of multiple households indoors because of the risk of creating greater chains of transmission.”

But indoor gyms will remain closed.

Mr Johnson added: “Most leisure facilities and tourist attractions will reopen if they can do so safely including outdoor gyms and playgrounds, cinemas, museums, galleries, themes parks and arcades as well as libraries, social clubs and community centres.

“Close proximity venues such as nightclubs, soft play areas, indoor gyms, swimming pools and spas will, I’m afraid, need to remain closed for now, as will bowling alleys and water parks.

“But my right honourable friends the Business and Culture Secretaries will establish task forces with public health experts and the sectors to help them become Covid-secure and reopen as soon as possible.

“We will also work with the arts industry on specific guidance to enable choirs, orchestras and theatres to resume live performances as soon as possible.

“Recreation and sport will be allowed, but indoor facilities including changing rooms and courts will remain closed and people should only play close contact team sports with members of their household.”