As of 12:01 this morning, Plan B restrictions have been lifted in England, meaning the following Covid restrictions have expired:
Finally some good news…
Speaking this morning, Sajid Javid said:
“The tireless efforts of NHS and care staff, and the army of volunteers, as well as the phenomenal response of the British public means over 37 million people have been boosted. I want to thank everyone who has come forward to Get Boosted Now.
“Our vaccines, testing and antivirals ensure we have some of the strongest defences in Europe and are allowing us to cautiously return to Plan A, restoring more freedoms to this country.
“As we learn to live with Covid we need to be clear eyed that this virus is not going away so if you haven’t already – please come forward for your first, second or booster jab.”
Of course, Sadiq is still insisting on mask-wearing on the tube…
Boris has confirmed Plan B will be scrapped in full from next Thursday:
The legal requirement for those with Covid to self-isolate will be scrapped on March 24 – or even earlier if the data continues to trend in the right direction. Beginning of the end…
No. 10 will not only be angry with the so-called ‘pork pie plotters’ for their treachery, they also managed to knock what would have been the day’s biggest news off the front pages. This morning Cabinet will meet to review the latest Covid data and Boris will update Parliament this afternoon. Last night a government spokesperson said “decisions on the next steps remain finely balanced”. It’s odds on today will be the beginning of the end for Covid restrictions after the massively successful booster roll-out.
Expect work from home guidance and Covid passports to be scrapped from next week. The facemask mandate will reportedly continue though it’s not certain whether it’ll be legally enforced or mere guidance. Shame Boris’s homemade partygate is swallowing up what would otherwise be true red meat news…
Nicola Sturgeon has just confirmed the Scottish Government will begin to lift Covid restrictions from 17th January, with the re-introduction of unlimited sports crowds. She says they hope to be lifting restrictions on indoor live events and hospitality – including bars and clubs – from 24 January. Just two days before the UK government is looking at scrapping Plan B altogether…
Boris this morning confirming the government is considering reducing the Covid self-isolation period from 7 days to 5, as the US has already implemented:
“We’re looking at [it]… we will act according to the science as we always have. But what I would say to everybody is that Omicron is still out there, it’s incredibly contagious. Everyone will know somebody who has had it, it can be pretty unpleasant.”
This follows Michael Gove’s comments earlier today on the potential lifting of Plan B measures in a few weeks, provided the NHS continues to keep Omicron under control. Looking increasingly likely that pandemic measures will – finally – wind down sooner rather than later…
Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that Scotland will move to Level 0 on 19th July, however “mitigations” including the mandatory wearing of face masks will remain in place for “some time to come”. In contrast to Boris’s plan.
From 19th July Scots will be able to:
Modifications to the original plan include:
The Scottish government is hoping to lift the remaining legal restriction on 9 August…
