Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced last week the government's plan to ease the UK away from the Plan B Covid restrictions that have been in place since mid-December to tackle Omicron.
The announcements will have come as welcome news to some, particularly those working in jobs that have been hampered by the 'lockdown lite' that has seen huge drops in footfall in the hospitality and nighttime industries.
Others, however, will be less enthusiastic about the upcoming changes - with many of the country's vulnerable still forced to shield from the virus.
But what does the government's exit strategy from Plan B actually include, and when will the various rule changes be coming into effect?
Thursday, January 27
Two key changes are planned to come into place this Thursday.
Face masks indoors
People have had to wear face coverings in certain indoor settings - including public transport - since the introduction of Plan B in December, but as of Thursday this will no longer be a legal requirement.
All kinds of indoor facilities have required the wearing of masks inside, from cinemas and theatres to indoor sports facilities and shops.
The government does however still recommend people wear face coverings in crowded places, especially when filled with strangers.
NHS Covid passes
Indoor venues of more than 500 people like nightclubs and other late-night venues - as well as outdoor events for more than 4,000 people - have all needed an NHS Covid pass to be shown upon entry. The same has gone for any event with over 10,000 attendees.
As of Thursday this is no longer going to be a legal requirement, although venues can use their own discretion and request entrants show a pass if that is their preferred policy.
The introduction of the law in the first place was controversial, with a 100-strong Tory revolt taking place at the time, leading to substantial pressure ever since for the Prime Minister to do away with the measure.
Rules already changed
Work from home guidance, which has dominated the working lives of many since well before Christmas, was lifted last week.
This was brought to an end when the official government advice for people living in England to work from home wherever possible was officially lifted, with Johnson encouraging people to get in touch with their employers to discuss the next steps for returning to workplaces and offices.
Ahead of the general end to mandatory mask-wearing, last Thursday also saw an end to school children needing to wear masks in classrooms with them having worn them since coming back to school after Christmas.
Some rules remain
The latest announcement last week saw no change to rules around travel to the UK, with people still needing to take a test within 48 hours of their return to the UK.
There is also no change to the legal requirement to isolate for at least five days if you test positive for the virus. The minimum time people needed to isolate has recently been shortened drastically, with people no longer needing to stay home for the full 10 days if they return two negative lateral flow tests on two consecutive days after the fifth day of isolation.
