England’s Plan B restrictions are to end from 26 January.

People are still urged to continuing taking steps to keep the virus at bay, including hand washing, ventilating rooms and self-isolating if positive – and those who are unvaccinated should still come forward to get their vaccinations and boosters.

In a statement to MPs in the House of Commons, the prime minister said:

• Mandatory Covid passports for entering nightclubs and large events would end, though organisations could choose to use the NHS Covid pass if they wished
• People would no longer be advised to work from home and should discuss their return to offices with employers
• Face masks will no longer be mandated, though people are still advised to wear coverings in enclosed or crowded spaces and when meeting strangers
• Secondary school pupils will no longer have to wear face masks in classrooms and government guidance on their use in communal areas would be removed.

Further announcements on the easing of travel rules and restrictions on care home visits in England are expected in the coming days.

 

 

 

The government hopes to offer every adult in England the chance to book a Covid booster before the end of 2021.

Booster campaigns are being brought forward across the UK, in response to worries over the Omicron variant.

A booster is available to every adult aged 18 or over from this week – as long as you had your second dose at least three months ago.

Over 30s can already book a booster online, from two months after their second dose. From Wednesday this will be extended to over 18s.

Beforehand, some walk-in appointments will be available – depending on where you live. The government says: “If there are long queues or all slots have been booked, people are encouraged to be patient and keep trying, or book online.”

Please note that the online booster booking service is currently experiencing extremely high demand and is now operating a queueing system. If you’re unable to book now, please try again later today or tomorrow.

For users aged 18-29, please be aware that booking opens on Wednesday 15 December.

The government has announced new Covid rules for England – including working from home if possible and wearing masks in more public places.

From Friday 10 December, face coverings are mandatory for most indoor public venues including places of worship, theatres and cinemas – as well as on public transport and in places like shops and hairdressers.

Masks won’t be needed in pubs or restaurants, nor in venues like gyms where it’s “not practical to wear them”.

From Monday 13 December, people should work from home “if they can”.

From Wednesday 15 December (subject to parliamentary approval), people will need an NHS Covid Pass – showing their vaccination status or a recent negative lateral flow test – to gain entry to:

• Nightclubs
• Indoor unseated venues with more than 500 people
• Unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people
• Any venue with more than 10,000 people

The government also wants people to do a lateral flow test (LFT) before entering “a high-risk setting” – such as a crowded place – “involving people you wouldn’t normally come into contact with, or when visiting a vulnerable person”.