Prime Minister confirms Covid restrictions will be eased as Plan B measures dropped

Plan B measures aimed at tackling the spread of Covid-19 are to be dropped across England, the Prime Minister has announced.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Boris Johnson told MPs in the House of Commons more than 90% of over-60s across the UK had now had booster vaccines to protect them, and scientists believed the Omicron wave had peaked.

The Government will make an announcement about easing Covid travel restrictions “in the next few days”, the Prime Minister has said.

Follow the latest on our live blog:

Boris Johnson confirms Plan B measures to be dropped across England

Key Events

  • Plan B measures aimed at tackling the spread of Covid-19 are to be dropped across England, the Prime Minister has announced.
  • Boris Johnson told MPs in the House of Commons more than 90% of over-60s across the UK had now had booster vaccines to protect them, and scientists believed the Omicron wave had peaked.
  • Covid-19 infections falling across most of the UK

Face masks no longer required in schools

A scream of joy could be heard from Conservative former minister Sir Desmond Swayne when Boris Johnson told the Commons: “Having looked at the data carefully, the Cabinet concluded that once regulations lapse the Government will no longer mandate the wearing of face masks anywhere.

“From tomorrow, we will no longer require face masks in classrooms and the Department for Education will shortly remove national guidance on their use in communal areas.

“In the country at large we will continue to suggest the use of face coverings in enclosed or crowded spaces, particularly when you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet – but we will trust the judgment of the British people and no longer criminalise anyone who chooses not to wear one.”

Face masks no longer required in schools

A scream of joy could be heard from Conservative former minister Sir Desmond Swayne when Boris Johnson told the Commons: “Having looked at the data carefully, the Cabinet concluded that once regulations lapse the Government will no longer mandate the wearing of face masks anywhere.

“From tomorrow, we will no longer require face masks in classrooms and the Department for Education will shortly remove national guidance on their use in communal areas.

“In the country at large we will continue to suggest the use of face coverings in enclosed or crowded spaces, particularly when you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet – but we will trust the judgment of the British people and no longer criminalise anyone who chooses not to wear one.”

Mandatory certification will end - PM says

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced England will return to Plan A after claiming “our scientists believe it is likely that the Omicron wave has now peaked nationally”.

He told the House of Commons: “Today’s latest ONS data show clearly that infection levels are falling in England and while there are some places where cases are likely to continue rising, including in primary schools, our scientists believe it is likely that the Omicron wave has now peaked nationally.

“There remain, of course, significant pressures on the NHS across our country, and especially in the North East and North West, but hospital admissions which were doubling every nine days just two weeks ago have now stabilised, with admissions in London even falling. The numbers in intensive care not only remain low but are actually also falling.”

Mr Johnson added: “So, this morning, the Cabinet concluded that because of the extraordinary booster campaign, together with the way the public have responded to the Plan B measures, we can return to Plan A in England and allow Plan B regulations to expire.

“As a result, from the start of Thursday next week mandatory certification will end. Organisations can, of course, choose to use the NHS Covid pass voluntarily but we will end the compulsory use of Covid status certification in England.”

Covid-19 infections have fallen in all regions of England except the north-east and south-west

Covid-19 infections have fallen in all regions of England except the north-east and south-west, where the trend is uncertain, the ONS said.

In north-east England, around one in 10 people was likely to test positive for Covid-19 in the week to January 15 – the highest estimate for any region.

South-west England had the lowest rate, at around one in 25.

Plan B measures to be dropped across England, Johnson says

Plan B measures aimed at tackling the spread of Covid-19 are to be dropped across England, the Prime Minister has announced.

Boris Johnson told MPs in the House of Commons more than 90% of over-60s across the UK had now had booster vaccines to protect them, and scientists believed the Omicron wave had peaked.

He said the Government had taken a “different path” to much of Europe and the “data are showing that, time and again, this Government got the toughest decisions right”.

People will no longer be told to work from home and, from Thursday next week when Plan B measures lapse, mandatory Covid certification will end, Mr Johnson said.

The Government will also no longer mandate the wearing of face masks anywhere from next Thursday and they will be scrapped in classrooms from this Thursday.

The news comes as Covid infection levels are falling in most parts of the UK for the first time since early December.