Plan B to continue in England

In a statement to the House of Commons, the Prime Minister confirmed that the Cabinet agreed to stick with Plan B measures for another three weeks, with a further review before their expiration on 26 January 2022.

The BBC reports that Boris Johnson has said he hopes England can “ride out” the current wave of COVID-19 without further restrictions but acknowledged that the NHS would feel “temporarily overwhelmed”.

It was announced that from 10 January, 100,000 critical workers in England would get free lateral flow tests every working day to keep services running. The testing regime is for key industries including food processing and transport.

It has also been confirmed that from 11 January in England, confirmatory PCR tests will be temporarily suspended for positive lateral flow test results. People instead are asked to self-isolate immediately following a positive LFD test.

NB All three devolved nations have also announced that those testing positive on an LFD test will no longer be advised to take a follow-up PCR test.

England – a recap of the rules:

  • Covid pass required for entry into nightclubs and other indoor and outdoor venues dependent on capacity.
  • Face coverings compulsory in most indoor public settings.
  • People should work from home “if they can”. 
  • 1m-plus social distancing remains in places such as hospitals.
  • Anyone who has been in contact with a positive Covid case, and is fully vaccinated, now has to take LFTs for 7 days.
  • Anyone who has tested positive or has symptoms can stop self-isolating after 7 days instead of 10 days if they get two negative lateral flow test results on days 6 and 7.
  • Travellers to England are no long required to take pre-departure travel covid tests.

The current guidance for England can be found here.