The vast majority of Plan B restrictions have officially ended in England from today.
The restrictions were first introduced back in December 2021 in a bid to curb the spread of the Omicron variant, but as infection rates, case numbers, and hospitalisation figures were seen to be decreasing, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that England would make the move back to ‘Plan A’ this week.
He claimed it’s time to “trust the judgement” of the British public, and said the government would set out its long-term strategy for “living with COVID”.
From today, the wearing of face masks on public transport, in supermarket and retail settings, in communal areas of schools, and “most public indoor venues” will not be required, and you’ll also no longer need to show your NHS COVID Pass at venues and events by law.
The easing of all Plan B restrictions comes after guidance to work from home, and the requirement to wear a face covering in classrooms, ended in England last week.
According to the government, as of today, the lifting of Plan B means:
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Mandatory COVID-19 certification will end, but venues may choose to use the ‘NHS COVID Pass’ voluntarily.
Face coverings will not be required by law in indoor venues.
Local directors of public health are still able to recommend face coverings in communal areas – only in education settings – within their area, but only where the department and public health experts judge the measures to be proportionate.
Face coverings must still be worn in health and care settings, including primary care and pharmacies.
It is still a legal requirement for those with COVID-19 to self-isolate for 10 days with the option to end self-isolation after 5 full days following two negative Lateral Flow tests.
Plan B measures have been lifted following the success of the booster programme.
From today:
▶️ face coverings are no longer mandatory indoors ▶️ NHS COVID Passes are voluntary for large events
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) January 27, 2022
When it comes to the wearing of face coverings, the government says it is still recommending they are worn in “crowded and indoor spaces where you may come into contact with people you do not normally meet”.
Some companies and services, however, are continuing to ask people to wear masks.
Face coverings will still be mandatory on Transport for London (TfGM) services, and supermarkets Sainsbury’s and Waitrose will be also be asking staff and shoppers to continue wearing masks in stores.
Speaking on the lifting of Plan B restrictions today, Health Secretary 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 and I want to thank everyone who has come forward.
“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.
“But 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.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that England would make the move back to ‘Plan A’ this week / Credit: Unsplash
A number of senior medics have criticised the decision to lift Plan B resrictions.
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Dr Chaand Nagpaul – Chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) Council – said scrapping the measures at such a fast pace “risks creating a false sense of security” while the NHS is still under crippling pressure.
He said the decision to move to Plan A was “not guided by the data”.
Matthew Taylor – Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation – said: “We will have greater freedoms, but the cost – at least in the short term – will be that more people are likely to get sick with COVID and that the health service will continue to have to deal with the extra burdens that this creates.”
The legal requirement for people with COVID-19 to self-isolate is due to expire on 24 March, but that date could be brought forward.
Featured Image – Flickr | gov.uk
News
11 people arrested during early-morning police raids across Manchester
Emily Sergeant
11 people have been arrested following a series of early morning police raids across Manchester this week.
In what formed part of Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) operation to disrupt, deter, and crack down on gang-related criminality across the region, officers from local neighbourhood teams, along with the Tactical Aid Unit, conducted warrants at seven addresses in Gorton and Openshaw, securing a total of 11 arrests along the way.
Nine males and two women, all between the ages of 16 and 28, were arrested.
They were each arrested on suspicion of a range of offences, including possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, and assault, and with investigations currently ongoing, they remain in custody for questioning.
#ARREST | Eleven arrested with drugs and weapons seized across multiple morning warrants in #Manchester
Nine men and two women, aged between 16 and 28, were arrested on suspicion of a range of offences including possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and assault. pic.twitter.com/onhDiqG4vb
Not only that, but police also seized a quantity of class A and B drugs, weapons including knives, and other ‘suspicious items’ for further investigation too.
Police say this ‘renewed work’ in targeting urban street gangs in the Manchester area comes off the back of a number of violent incidents in recent months – particularly including the shooting of a teenager in October.
Further activity and ‘proactive action’ is planned in the coming months as part of the ongoing operation, which, according to GMP, will see more criminality targeted, more arrests and charges, and more work with local partners to reduce and prevent all manner of crimes.
11 people have been arrested during early-morning police raids across Manchester / Credit: GMP
“We simply will not tolerate incidents which see young people being left with devastating injuries, lifelong issues, and being trapped in a vicious cycle from which they struggle to break out of,” commented Inspector Dan Pickavance, from GMP’s North Manchester neighbourhood team, following the raids this week.
“Our work today is designed to stop exactly those things.
“We want to get people who we suspect of crime off the streets, seize deadly weapons, and get drugs out of supply before they end up in the hands of vulnerable people.”
Featured Image – GMP
News
Five Manchester bars have just been named in the UK’s Top 50 Cocktail Bars
Daisy Jackson
Five bars in Manchester have just received one of the industry’s highest accolades – a place in the UK’s Top 50 Cocktail Bars.
In a glittering ceremony down in London today, the best in the cocktail industry were crowned, and our city has a lot to be proud of.
Manchester now has five cocktail bars in the Top 50, with two new entries this year.
And while Schofield’s has been toppled from the top spot this year, this award-winning bar on Quay Street is still heading home with a podium finish, now ranked the third-best bar in the entire UK.
One of the new faces on the prestigious list is Stray, a beautiful cocktail bar tucked into a corner of Mackie Mayor.
Famed for its tomato vine margaritas, as well as the pain-staking effort the team goes to to infuse their own spirits and make their own cordials, Stray has deservedly debuted at number 25. And we have a feeling they’re just getting started.
Red Light is another new name on the list, after taking home the coveted ‘One To Watch’ award in 2024.
Red LightStrayBlinker
The gorgeous LGBTQ+ cocktail bar on Little David Street at Kampus has placed 40th.
Blinker has held on to a place in the Top 50 Cocktail Bars list, dropping down to 22nd – still a phenomenal achievement for the Spring Gardens boozer.
Blinker has a dedicated martini menu, and also serves them alongside retro Breville toasties.
And finally, last but not least, Speak In Code on Jackson’s Row jumped up into 11th place.
This fantastic brick-lined bar opened properly (it was a pop-up before) just five years ago and it’s consistently topped national lists of the best bars ever since.
There were also amazing results for our sister cities in Sheffield and Leeds, with The Pearl at Parkhill at 44 and Public at 39 for the former, and Tabula Rasa at 27 and Below Stairs at 11 for the latter.
A huge congratulations to all these very worthy winners.
The Manc -
27th January 2022 
