Gosport MP, Caroline Dinenage, has welcomed the announcement that all Plan B measures will be removed in England from Thursday 27 January.
Updating MPs in Parliament today, the Prime Minister announced that as of Thursday next week all Plan B restrictions will be eased in England. It was also announced that the laws enforcing these restrictions will also be removed.
The measures being lifted include:
- The removal of mandatory face masks, including in classrooms for secondary school students and on public transport;
- The end of mandatory Covid-19 NHS Pass in England. It will be down to businesses individual discretion as to whether to use them;
- People will no longer be encouraged to work from home if they can; and
- Visits to care homes will be eased.
The Government also announced that self-isolation regulations will end on the 24th March, with no plans to renew them after this date. However, the Prime Minister was clear that at the present point in time if an individual tests positive for Covid-19 then they will still be required to isolate for five days providing they test negative on day 5 and day 6.
Speaking about the decision the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said:
“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 9 days just two weeks ago – have now stabilised, with admissions in London even falling.
And the numbers in intensive care not only remain low but are actually also falling.
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.”
Caroline commented on this announcement:
“Whether it be individuals, families, businesses or community organisations, this will mean a great deal to all of my constituents in Gosport. The removal of self-isolation in March will mark two years since the very first lockdown and it heartens me to know that the end of the Covid-19 pandemic as we know it is almost in sight.”
“Although the Plan B measures were important in mitigating the spread of the Omicron variant prior to Christmas, I completely agree that is time to place trust back in to the publics hands.”