Removal of Plan B rules comes into force today
Boris Johnson has announced last week that coronavirus rules would be eased in England from today
From today people across Harrogate and the Yorkshire Dales will no longer need to follow Plan B restrictions imposed by the Government.
Boris Johnson has announced last week that coronavirus rules, that were introduced in mid-December, would be eased in England.
He announced the change in the House of Commons following fiery exchanges during Prime last week's Minister's Questions over the 'partygate' row.
With the move back to Plan A, mask wearing will no longer be compulsory in public settings, and pupils will no longer need to wear them anywhere on site. They were able to remove them in classrooms from last Thursday (20 January).
Covid vaccine certification is no longer compulsory, while many venues may voluntarily carry on asking for covid vaccination status, it will not be a legal requirement.
The government will no longer ask people to work from home and restrictions on visiting care homes have eased.
What do people in Harrogate think to the change? Our reporter Natalie Higgins has been out in the town centre:
The Prime Minister said self-isolation for people testing positive for Covid-19 will still be a legal requirement
“In particular, it is still a legal requirement for those who have tested positive for Covid to self-isolate. On Monday we reduced the isolation period to five full days with two negative tests, and there will soon come a time when we can remove the legal requirement to self-isolate altogether, just as we don’t place legal obligations on people to isolate if they have flu.
Boris Johnson also urged people to be cautious, particularly in the last few months of winter: “We must all remain cautious during these last weeks of winter. There are still over 16,000 people in hospital in England alone. The pandemic is not over.”