By Tony O’Riley-
Face coverings and Covid passes are no longer legally required in England, after the relaxation of Plan B rules came into effect on Thursday.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the measures are to be lifted due to the vaccine rollout’s success and a better understanding of Covid treatments.
As from Thursday, face coverings are no longer required by law anywhere in England, and a legal requirement for COVID passes for entry into nightclubs and other large venues has been scrapped.
The government last week dropped its advice for people to work from home as well as guidance for face coverings in classrooms.
The so-called “Plan B” measures were introduced in early December to stop the rapid spread of the omicron variant from overwhelming health services and to buy time for the population to get its booster vaccine shot.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the government’s vaccine rollout, testing and development of antiviral treatments combine to make “some of the strongest defenses in Europe,” allowing a “cautious return” to normality.
The PM’s official spokesman said mask wearing would now be “a matter of personal judgment”, although some shops have said they would still ask customers to wear masks, though they would not be mandatory.
Rail operators also said passengers would be expected to wear face coverings. But all said they would encourage, not force, customers to comply.
The Uk government said Public health guidance urging people to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces when coming into contact with strangers will remain, the government said.
Other measures brought in to tackle the spread of the Omicron variant – including work-from-home guidance and advice on facemasks in secondary school classrooms – have already been dropped.
The Department of Health said the changes followed a review of data last week, including infections, vaccine efficacy, Covid pressures on the NHS, workforce absences, public behaviours, and views from the scientific community.
Mr Javid said: “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.”
meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said masks will remain mandatory on Transport for London services, calling on people to “do the right thing”.
Cases of coronavirus across the UK have fallen sharply from a high peak at the turn of the year.
Over 37 million people have now had their booster or third jab – 64% of the population – with another 51,097 doses given out in the latest 24-hour period.
A graph showing the number of deaths within 28 days of a positive test, with a seven-day average of 262
Meanwhile, a study in England found that two-thirds of people recently infected with the Omicron variant said they had already had Covid previously. More work is needed to know how many are true reinfections.
Also, in Northern Ireland , hospitality will be back to normal and nightclubs will be able to reopen in Wales on Friday 28 January, but Covid passes will still be required on entry. They will also be necessary for large events, cinemas and theatres.
In Scotland, some Covid restrictions on indoor events and venues were lifted on 24 January, including the need for table service in hospitality venues.
The ending of mandatory Covid passes in some settings in England has been welcomed by the hospitality industry.
Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said requiring passes had been a “debilitating and divisive mitigation”. Businesses across the night-time economy will celebrate the change, he said.