After weeks of uncertainty which saw the hospitality and leisure sectors thrown into chaos, the Government finally announced that no further COVID-19 restrictions would be imposed in England over Christmas or New Year.
This means that (at the time of writing), Plan B is still in force at the start of January 2022. The rules are as follows:
- It’s compulsory to wear a face covering in most public indoor venues. The exceptions are if you’re eating, drinking or exercising, so you don’t need to wear one in a pub, cafe, restaurant or gym.
- Face coverings must be used on public transport and also worn by secondary school pupils in the classroom.
- You should work from home if you’re able to do so.
- A COVID Pass, or proof of a negative lateral flow or PCR test taken within 48 hours, is required for entry into nightclubs and other settings where large crowds gather, such as sports venues.
These regulations will be reviewed in early January – and the Government has said it won’t hesitate to extend restrictions if the Omicron variant is likely to overwhelm the NHS.
The rules around self-isolation have also changed. If you’ve tested positive or have symptoms, you now only have to self-isolate for 7 days instead of 10. However, you’ll need to have two negative lateral flow test results on days 6 and 7 to go out and about again.
For the latest news and updates on COVID-19, please visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
To obtain a COVID Pass, you can download the NHS App or ask the NHS to send you a letter in the post. To find out more, please visit www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.