HEALTH leaders have called for everyone to “play their part” to stay safe when restrictions are lifted amid warnings Covid cases could reach 100,000 a day nationally.

On Monday, July 12, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed the final stage of the government’s roadmap will go ahead from July 19 – but warned ‘caution’ as “this pandemic is not over”.

This means most legal restrictions will be removed, including mandatory face mask wearing, although it’s advised to keep wearing them in crowded and enclosed spaces as well to keep washing hands and test regularly.

But the government has been warned this final easing could lead to between 1,000 and 2,000 hospital admissions, 100 and 200 deaths, and 100,000 cases per day.

READ MORE: Maidenhead's health chief will 'continue' to wear face mask post-Freedom Day

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Royal Borough councillor Stuart Carroll, lead member for health, agreed with the final lifting as “now is the best time” to give businesses and citizens some of their freedoms prior to autumn and winter when influenza season starts.

But he warned for everyone needs to be “focused and cautious” by getting their vaccine and keep wearing masks and testing regularly.

He said: “We have to ask everyone to play their part and play their role here and that’s going to be absolutely essential. There is no doubt about it, there is a social contract here that if we, as a society, want more freedom.”

With cases rising across the country, some see the final easing as reckless – which Jonathan Ashworth, shadow health secretary, called “pushing down on the accelerator while throwing off the seatbelt”.

Slough Observer: Jonathan Ashworth, shadow health secretaryJonathan Ashworth, shadow health secretary

Cllr Carroll, who is an epidemiologist and on the UK vaccine taskforce, dismissed the Labour MP’s comments as “crass”, saying: “The government to be fair isn’t saying let’s throw off the seatbelt out the window.

“They are making it very, very clear that people should take responsibility and do the right thing, and that includes continuing with basic but very important health protocols such as washing hands.”

He added the population is continuing to grow a “wall of immunity” thanks to the vaccination programme, the country should learn to live with Covid.

While a tough winter could impact the NHS, Cllr Carroll said “nothing is left off the table” for future restrictions if cases, hospitalisations, and deaths become out of control.

READ MORE: GP Patient Survey reveals Windsor and Maidenhead's best and worst practices

The Royal Borough’s health chief “strongly urged” those who have not been vaccinated or gotten their second dose to book a slot on the NHS website as soon as they can to keep themselves and everyone else from Covid.

He also called for people to get their booster jab when called to do so as well as their influenza shot to minimise pressure off the NHS this winter.