Posted on Thursday 20th January 2022
Staffordshire residents are being encouraged to stay vigilant – as plans to lift Covid restrictions are announced.
The Government has confirmed that its Plan B restrictions will now be lifted, after Omicron cases have continued to fall and hospital admissions have stabilised.
This means that:
Immediately:
- Working from home guidance ends
From tomorrow:
- School pupils and staff will no longer need to wear face coverings in classrooms
From January 27:
- There will no longer be a legal requirement to wear a face covering in any setting. Although the Government will advise them in crowded and enclosed spaces
- Covid passes will no longer be compulsory for events and venues
The Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, also said that over the coming weeks they would also be looking at replacing legal rules on self-isolation with guidance and easing restrictions on visits to care homes.
Alan White, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, said:
“Today’s announcement means that once again we will all be able to see less restrictions on our lives, but this does not signal the end of the pandemic once and for all.
“We have all seen how quickly the Omicron variant changed the situation and it is up to all of us to remain vigilant and move forward step by step, when it is safe to do so.
“Thankfully, cases have fallen sharply, but in Staffordshire they are still very high, so we must still do what we can to limit the risks, especially as the current restrictions are lifted.
“Key to this is still following the basics like; washing our hands regularly, letting in plenty of fresh air into rooms, taking extra care when meeting people we don’t normally mix with and self-isolating if testing positive, as these all help reduce the spread of the virus."
This week WOW, the Week Of Walk-ins is highlighting how easy it is just to turn up and get a vaccine – and people can still get their first, second or booster doses. Further details of community walk-ins in Staffordshire can be found here.