Credit: Getty
News
Covid-19 restrictions: the government will remove almost all restrictions from next week after scrapping “Plan B”
By Amy Beecham
4 years ago
Prime minister Boris Johnson has announced that restrictions introduced in December to help curb the rising Omicron Covid-19 variant will be lifted next week.
Boris Johnson has confirmed that the UK’s “Plan B” restrictions – including work from home guidance, Covid passports and mandatory wearing of face-masks – will be lifted in England from next Thursday.
The prime minister told the House of Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions that cases were falling and the Omicron variant had likely peaked nationally, meaning rules could now be eased.
On 18 January, the UK reported 94,432 positive tests and 438 deaths.
Plan B restrictions, which were introduced before Christmas amid the spread of the Omicron variant, however the prime minister said today that said the decision came after the latest ONS data showed cases were falling in almost all parts of the country – except in the northeast and southwest.
Johnson said it was time to “trust the judgement” of the public on the use of masks in enclosed and crowded places, and they will be scrapped in classrooms from tomorrow.
He confirmed the intention to end self-isolation rules for people with coronavirus in the coming weeks. Restrictions on visits to care homes are also set to be eased further, with health secretary Sajid Javid setting out plans “in the coming days”.
The announcement comes amid the ongoing “partygate” scandal, as allegations of multiple government events being held during lockdown have become the subject of an independent inquiry.
For official guidance on England’s full Covid-19 restrictions, please visit gov.uk.
Images: Getty
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