Boris Johnson is expected to announce an easing of Plan B restrictions in England in a statement later today.
It has been reported that the Prime Minister will go through the latest COVID-19 data this morning with government ministers, before making a statement to MPs in the House of Commons this afternoon.
Plan B measures were introduced in England back in mid December 2021 in a bid to curb the spread of the Omicron variant.
Those measures were:
Guidance to work from home “if you can”.
The reintroduction of a legal requirement to wear face masks in “most public indoor venues”, including theatres and cinemas – with exceptions “where it’s not practical, including while eating, drinking, exercising or singing”.
NHS COVID passes for nightclubs, unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people, and any venue with more than 10,000 people.
Daily testing for people identified as a contact of a COVID-19 case – with isolation required only for people who test positive.
Although several changes have been made while Plan B restrictions still stood – particularly with reference to testing and the duration of isolation periods – it was announced at the time that these measures would expire on 26 January, and the government committed to reviewing them before this date.
According to emerging reports, the Prime Minister could opt to retain the mask-wearing requirement for the time being, but choose to scrap the work from home guidance and need for COVID passes.
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Plan B measures were introduced in December 2021 to curb the spread of the Omicron variant / Credit: Flickr | Unsplash
When asked yesterday if restrictions would be lifted next week, as per the initial date set out, Mr Johnson said: “We’ve got to be careful about COVID [and] we’ve got to continue to remember that it’s a threat,” while Health Secretary Sajid Javid also told MPs the same day that he was “cautiously optimistic that we will be able to substantially reduce restrictions next week”.
Speaking ahead of the Prime Minister’s expected statement on restrictions, a government spokesperson said: “Decisions on the next steps remain finely balanced.
“Plan B was implemented in December to slow the rapid spread of the extremely transmissible Omicron variant, and get more jabs in arms [and] it’s thanks to the phenomenal efforts of the NHS and many dedicated volunteers that we have now delivered over 36 million boosters to people across the UK.
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“The Omicron variant continues to pose a significant threat and the pandemic is not over [as] infections remain high.
It was announced at the time that measures would expire on 26 January, and the government would review them before this date / Credit: Unsplash (John Cameron)
“But the latest data is encouraging, with cases beginning to fall.
“Vaccines remain our best line of defence and we urge people to come forward to give themselves the best possible protection.”
Official figures show that the UK has recorded 94,432 COVID-19 cases and 438 COVID-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period, and there are currently 19,450 people in hospital with COVID as of 17 January – which is down 2% week-on-week.
Featured Image – Parliament TV
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Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
The Manc -
19th January 2022 
