Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced in Parliament that Plan B rules in England are to be scrapped.
Work from home guidance has been dropped immediately, meaning people can return to the office and masks no longer need to be worn in schools.
From next Thursday face masks will no longer be legally required anywhere and Covid passports for large venues will be axed from January 26, when the rules are set to expire in law.
The Manchester Evening News went to Harpurhey to ask people how they really feel about the lifting of the Plan B restrictions.
READ MORE :
Joan Ganz, 65, who lives in Monsall is a full-time carer for partner Harry Lloyd, 69, who has suffered two strokes.
She says she worries the lifting of restrictions will simply make vulnerable people more at risk.
Joan told the MEN: "I think it is too quick - we have people who are vulnerable like Harry, and we haven't been able to see a doctor in two years.
"I think lifting the restrictions is a cop out to take the attention away from him- he is a man clinging on by his finger nails.
"I have never known a person cling so hard to his job.
"My first husband died during the first lockdown.
"My kids were heart broken as they couldn't see him - and he died on his own.
"The Prime Minister was partying and it makes me sick."
Harry Lloyd says: "How do they know it's peaked when they are showing figures that are just as bad as weeks ago?
"I have heard a lot more ambulances in the last few days.
"Other countries are being more stringent about it.
"We will still be wearing masks and being careful."
Janet Stafford, 70, from Failsworth said: "I agree with them lifting restrictions but I will still wear a mask in the shops.
"I agree with working from home restrictions being lifted from a business point of view.
"A lot of small businesses and coffee shops have been going to the wall, they need things to get back to normal.
"The country needs to get back to some sense of normality."
Friend Linda Howard, 75, from Moston agrees.
She says: "It's been a long time and people are getting fed up with it - and if they can party - why can't we?
"I think a lot of people will continue to work from home because they have got used to it.
"But for some people, like the girls at Tesco have had to work through it and I hold my hands up to them.
"I will still wear a mask.
"We used to laugh at people in China wearing masks because of pollution but now we are all used to wearing them.
"Even when the restrictions lift, I will keep mine on in shops - although in the fresh air, it should be OK."
Colin Calvert, 66, is retired and lives in Moston.
He says, like others, he has lost faith in following government rules and will do what makes him feel safe and comfortable.
"I won't be listening to Boris Johnson," he tells me, "because he is a load of rubbish.
"All the people doing everything on their own - and he was partying.
"I am still keeping safe.
"I'm retired so working from home restrictions being lifted does not affect me - but if I go to Asda I will be putting a mask on.
"I will wear a mask until I feel comfortable not to, not just do what he says - he's a liar, he can't tell the truth."
Carole Pilling, 62, is a support worker and lives in Moston and "never had a choice" to work from home.
She says: "I think people should go back to work but keep safe."
But Carole and her daughter Victoria Pilling, 40, say they believe the Prime Minister has an hidden motive for lifting restrictions.
"He is probably lifting it all so he can book a holiday or have a party," says Victoria.
"He bends the rules to suit himself."
Carole agrees: "He let Dominic Cummings get away with rule breaking," she says.
"Then they are all partying in the garden - it's a joke."
Carole says she thinks five days of isolating should you contract Covid "is not enough."
"It should be more than five days and If you get sick with Covid, you should get paid for it."
An NHS nurse who wishes to remain anonymous said: "I can't work from home anyway and I will be wearing a mask, but I am worried about the lifting of restrictions.
"There is a huge outbreak at the moment.
"I just do what I am told - but I am concerned about staffing.
"It will be difficult with more cases and more people off sick with Covid."
