95209
  • Log in
The Daily Sceptic
No Result
View All Result
  • Articles
  • About
  • Archive
    • ARCHIVE
    • NEWS ROUND-UPS
  • Forum
  • Donate
  • Newsletter
The Daily Sceptic
No Result
View All Result

Government Announces End of Pandemic Restrictions – Including Mask Mandate From January 26th

by Will Jones
19 January 2022 4:07 PM

As Boris Johnson’s premiership unravels following the backlash from the ‘partygate’ revelations of illicit Downing Street lockdown shindigs, the Prime Minister has announced not only the end of Plan B measures from January 26th – including vaccine passports, work-from-home guidance and face masks – but his intention to end the remaining measures as well. He told the Commons:

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 nine days just two weeks ago have now stabilised, with admissions in London even falling. 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.

As a result, from the start of Thursday next week mandatory certification will end. Organisations can, of course, choose to use the NHS Covid pass voluntarily but we will end the compulsory use of Covid status certification in England.

Announcing the end of work-from-home guidance with immediate effect, he said: “People should speak to their employers about arrangements for returning to the office.” 

He also said that face masks would no longer be mandated in classrooms from tomorrow, or anywhere else after Plan B measures lapse:

Having looked at the data carefully, the Cabinet concluded that once regulations lapse the Government will no longer mandate the wearing of face masks anywhere.

From tomorrow, we will no longer require face masks in classrooms and the Department for Education will shortly remove national guidance on their use in communal areas.

In the country at large we will continue to suggest the use of face coverings in enclosed or crowded spaces, particularly when you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet – but we will trust the judgement of the British people and no longer criminalise anyone who chooses not to wear one.

He also signalled his intention to end the legal requirement to self-isolate, including bringing forward the current expiry date from March 24th:

The self-isolation regulations expire on March 24th, at which point I very much expect not to renew them. Indeed, were the data to allow, I’d like to seek a vote in this House to bring that date forward. As Covid becomes endemic, we will need to replace legal requirements with advice and guidance, urging people with the virus to be careful and considerate of others.

He added that restrictions on visits to care homes will be eased, with Health Secretary Sajid Javid setting out plans “in the coming days”.

The ONS brought out its latest infection survey data early today, showing a sharp drop in coronavirus prevalence in the U.K. last week, as already seen in the falling reported infection numbers.

It’s not all good news, though. Asked by Conservative MP Dr. Andrew Murrison whether given leaked advice to ministers that the NHS vaccine mandate “is neither rational nor proportionate”, would he “think again before redundancy letters start going out as from February 3rd”, the Prime Minister reiterated his support for the policy:

The arguments have been made well made by colleagues across the House today. I just remind him this is something that is supported by the NHS themselves for patient safety. It is a very difficult point when it comes to patients who have contracted fatal Covid. People do want their medical staff to be vaccinated. I would just repeat what I have said throughout the afternoon, I do think it is the responsibility of all healthcare professionals to be vaccinated.

The fight goes on. There’s also the question of who might replace Boris should the current plot to oust him succeed, with a worry that someone even more keen on restrictions might end up in the top job.

Tags: Freedom DayLockdownsMandatory VaccinesMask MandatesPlan APlan BVaccine PassportsWork from home

Donate

We depend on your donations to keep this site going. Please give what you can.

Donate Today

Comment on this Article

You’ll need to set up an account to comment if you don’t already have one. We ask for a minimum donation of £5 if you'd like to make a comment or post in our Forums.

Sign Up
Previous Post

Royal Society Report: Big Tech Should Not Censor Dissent

Next Post

Two New Science Papers Cast Further Doubt on Human Contribution to Climate Change

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
Please log in to comment

Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban.

385 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

NEWSLETTER

View today’s newsletter

To receive our latest news in the form of a daily email, enter your details here:

 

DONATE

PODCAST

Nick Dixon and Toby Young Talk About St. Gary’s Struggle to Call People Nazis, the Truth About January 6th and a Victory Against ‘Non-Crime Hate Incidents’

by Will Jones
14 March 2023
6

LISTED ARTICLES

  • Most Read
  • Most Commented
  • Editors Picks

Dutch Farmers’ Protest Party Opposing Green Policies Celebrates Shock Election Win

16 March 2023
by Will Jones

mRNA Vaccine Contamination Much Worse Than Thought: Jabs “Up to 35%” DNA That Turns Human Cells into Long-Term Spike Protein Factories

13 March 2023
by Will Jones

Mask Rage Man Who Hit Victim in Head With Pole for Not Wearing a Face Mask is Jailed

16 March 2023
by Will Jones

News Round-Up

16 March 2023
by Will Jones

Cutting Through the Web of Global Censorship Bankrolled by Billionaires

16 March 2023
by Alex Kriel

The Masculinity Crisis is Harming Young Men

41

Dutch Farmers’ Protest Party Opposing Green Policies Celebrates Shock Election Win

31

Cutting Through the Web of Global Censorship Bankrolled by Billionaires

20

Massive U.S. Offshore Wind Farm Given Permit to Harm Hundreds of Whales and Thousands of Dolphins

21

News Round-Up

24

Excess Deaths Return After Five-Week Hiatus – But They Only Disappeared Due to ONS Trickery

17 March 2023
by Will Jones

Cutting Through the Web of Global Censorship Bankrolled by Billionaires

16 March 2023
by Alex Kriel

Massive U.S. Offshore Wind Farm Given Permit to Harm Hundreds of Whales and Thousands of Dolphins

16 March 2023
by Chris Morrison

New OpenAI Chatbot is Still Politically Biased

15 March 2023
by Noah Carl
Young progressive female teacher discussing with preteen children about LGBT social movements in classroom, holding rainbow flag

A Teacher Writes: Too Many Teachers See the Indoctrination of Children With Leftist Ideology as Fundamental to Their Role

15 March 2023
by Anonymous Teacher

POSTS BY DATE

January 2022
M T W T F S S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  
« Dec   Feb »

SOCIAL LINKS

Free Speech Union
  • Home
  • About us
  • Donate
  • Privacy Policy

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

RSS

Subscribe to our newsletter

© Skeptics Ltd.

No Result
View All Result
  • Articles
  • About
  • Archive
    • ARCHIVE
    • NEWS ROUND-UPS
  • Forum
  • Donate
  • Newsletter

© Skeptics Ltd.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Please note: To be able to comment on our articles you'll need to be a registered donor

Already have an account?
Please click here to login Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
wpDiscuz
You are going to send email to

Move Comment