The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced his Government will be dropping its “Plan B” restrictions, which include compulsory mask wearing and mandatory certification, also known as the NHS Covid Pass. He stated this is part of a longer-term strategy for living with covid while protecting liberty and avoiding future restrictions.
Mask wearing now becomes voluntary in all settings, although the official recommendation remains for face coverings to be worn in enclosed or crowded places. In particular, face masks will no longer be required in schools.
The implications of the removal of mandatory use of the Covid Pass for businesses are significant. Employees who previously were forced to work from home are no longer required to do so and are expected to make arrangements with their employers to return to work premises. Customers will no longer be required to produce the Pass to access services, essentially restoring freedom for the economy to operate normally.
Restrictions on visits to care homes will also be eased with details to be announced in coming days by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Mandatory vaccination is still required for UK frontline healthcare workers.
Further, the PM expressed his preference for the end of self-isolation requirements to be brought forward. Regulations governing self-isolation for people who have tested positive, expire on 24th March at present. The self-isolation period had already been reduced on Monday to 5 days, down from 7 days previously and 10 days just prior to Christmas. Two negative tests are still required.
In the Czech Republic, new centre-right Prime Minister Petr Fiala also announced the cessation of vaccine mandates, which had been imposed by the previous government on certain professions and people over 60. In doing so, the CZ PM stated that his Cabinet did not wish to “widen divisions within society”.
Fiala’s Government was sworn into power on 17 December 2021 following 10 weeks of coalition negotiations after the most recent general election.
The vaccination mandate was due to come into force in March 2022 for hospital and nursing home staff, police, soldiers and some other professions. Further in anticipation of a surge of new covid cases, asymptomatic essential healthcare workers and social service personnel who test positive may be allowed to continue working.
The current system of mandatory testing for covid in schools, businesses, social services and the health sector, will continue to be in place until mid- or late February.
