This evening the Health Secretary announced an end to the Covid restrictions the country has been following for months.
Sajid Javid gave a press conference at No 10 today (Wednesday, January 19) after the Prime Minister announced Plan B measures are being scrapped.
He addressed the nation on self-isolation rules, face masks, working from home and Covid passports in what has been described as a major turning point for Covid in England.
READ MORE: Self-isolation could be scrapped as 'we must learn to live with covid'
Mr Javid hailed the lifting of restrictions a moment “we can all be proud of” as he praised the public for its “collective effort” in tackling the virus.
He explained that the decision to lift measures is based on the latest data, which shows a drop in hospital admissions and deaths from Covid.
He said he was “conscious of the impact” of harsh lockdowns after the emergence of the Omicron variant, which is why England “pursued a different path”.
But he continued to add that we “shouldn’t see this as the finish line”.
“We cannot eradicate this virus and its future variants. We must learn to live with covid in the same way we've learnt to live with flu," he said.
Here are the main points from the announcement, including the rule changes and when they come into force:
Working from home
The Health Secretary said people will no longer be told to work from home.
The Government had advised people to work from home “if they can,” but this has now been lifted with immediate effect.
Face masks
Mr Javid said face masks will no longer be mandated from next Thursday (January 27), though people are still advised to wear coverings in enclosed or crowded spaces and when meeting strangers.
From tomorrow (Thursday, January 20), secondary school pupils will no longer have to wear face masks in classrooms.
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Covid passports
Mandatory Covid passports will no longer be a legal requirement for entering nightclubs and large events from January 27.
However it’s understood organisations could choose to continue to use the NHS Covid pass if they wish.
Self-isolation
Sajid Javid said the legal requirement for people with Covid to self-isolate could be downgraded to "guidance and advice".
"We're looking to replace legal requirements on self-isolation with guidance and advice, and in the coming days, I'll be setting out our plans to further ease restrictions on visits to care homes," he said.
Mr Javid stressed that the self-isolation requirement is still in place currently, but that its removal would be considered in future.
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