We could be just nine days away from almost all Covid-19 restrictions being lifted in England.
According to reports over the weekend, Plan B restrictions including mask wearing in secondary schools, public transport and indoor events could end on Wednesday, January 26.
This is the date restrictions that also include Covid passports for some large venues and working from home guidance could all go.
However, there would still be a requirement to isolate for five days with a positive Covid test and the need to take lateral flow tests for international travel, the Sunday Express reported.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid is said to be 'sure' that the restrictions will not be needed after the January deadline, and is expected to formally announce in the coming days that the restrictions will not be renewed.
Mr Javid said in the Commons last week: “That no restrictions, none at all, should be in place for a moment longer than is absolutely necessary.”
He said the Plan B restrictions “are planned, unless this House was to decide otherwise, they would sunset on January 26. But in terms of what happens next, in terms of the Government’s own view, we will set that out as soon as we can.”
The government source said Javid feels confident about the decision because of the falling number of cases and evidence that Omicron is not as dangerous as other variants.
The “signs are encouraging” for lifting Covid restrictions in England at the end of the month, a Cabinet minister has said.
While on Sunday, Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden said the "signs are encouraging" that Covid restrictions in England could be lifted at the end of the month.
He made the comment as the Prime Minister prepares to review the Plan B rules on mandatory mask-wearing, working from home and Covid passes on January 26.
Mr Dowden told Sky News’ Trevor Phillips On Sunday programme: “It has always been my hope that we would have the Plan B restrictions for the shortest period possible.
“I’m under no doubt the kind of burdens this puts hospitality, wider business, schools and so on under, and I want us to get rid of those if we possibly can.
“The signs are encouraging but, clearly, we will wait to see the data ahead of that final decision.”
Boris Johnson could reportedly make an announcement on easing restrictions within days as part of a blitz of new policies as he looks to survive the publication of senior civil servant Sue Gray’s report into alleged lockdown-busting parties at Downing Street.
