England on Thursday announced that it has resolved to lift coronavirus restrictions which were imposed to tackle the Omicron variant. With the new rules, face masks are no longer required in enclosed places and vaccine passports have also been shelved.
Africa Today News, New York reports that the number of positive Covid-19 cases in the country has fallen sharply over the past two weeks, and although still at high levels, have plateaued in recent days.
It would be recalled that the UK government introduced the so-called ‘Plan B’ restrictions on December 8, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned of a looming ‘tidal wave’ of Omicron.
Face masks were required in all enclosed spaces and, controversially, vaccine documentation also was to enter places such as nightclubs, football grounds and large-scale events.
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On the streets of London around St Paul’s Cathedral, there was general support for the lifting of restrictions, which comes after more than 37 million people had booster jabs.
England previously lifted restrictions on July 19, so-called “Freedom Day”, but then introduced new rules as the Omicron wave arrived.
Health minister Sajid Javid credited the country’s booster programme for allowing restrictions to be lifted.
From Thursday, passengers on London’s transport network will still be required to wear face masks but they will no longer be mandatory in secondary school classrooms.
Despite the lifting of restrictions, those who test positive for coronavirus must still self-isolate for a minimum of five days.
Johnson said he also hopes to scrap those rules when they expire on March 24.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK