London Jan 27 (BUS): Most coronavirus restrictions including mandatory face masks were lifted in England on Thursday, after the British government said the rollout of the booster vaccine had succeeded in curbing serious illness and hospital admissions for COVID-19.
From Thursday, face coverings are no longer required by law anywhere in England, and the legal requirements for COVID-19 permits to enter nightclubs and other large venues have been scrapped.
The government last week dropped its advice for people to work from home as well as guidelines for covering the face in the classroom. From next week, restrictions on the number of visitors to nursing homes will also be lifted.
England is not the only place in Europe where it is ditching coronavirus restrictions this week. The Netherlands, on Wednesday, reopened restaurants, museums and theaters for the first time in a month as part of a broader easing of restrictions.
The move came as the number of infections rose in the country, although admissions to intensive care units declined.
In Denmark, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Wednesday that from February 1, Danes can enjoy free access to restaurants, museums and nightclubs, and the mandatory requirement to wear face masks will also be scrapped.
So-called “Plan B” measures were introduced in England in early December to stop the rapid spread of the Omicron variant from massive health services and buy time for the population to get a booster vaccine.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which make their own public health rules, have similarly relaxed virus restrictions.
Health Minister Sajid Javid said the government’s release of a vaccine and the testing and development of antiviral treatments combine to create “some of the strongest defenses in Europe”, allowing a “cautious return” to normal life.
But he added that “as we learn to live with COVID, we need to be clear that this virus is not going away.” While infections continue to decline, health officials said omicron has remained prevalent across the country, especially among children and the elderly.
Officials said nearly 84% of people aged over 12 in the UK had received a second dose of the vaccine, and 81% of those eligible had received a booster dose.
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