Johnson calls end to COVID restrictions

Johnson calls end to COVID restrictions

LONDON: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday said most restrictions deployed to fight the latest wave of the COVID pandemic in England would be lifted from next week. People will no longer have to wear masks in closed spaces, work from home and prove vaccination to enter public spaces such as nightclubs, Johnson told parliament.

“Because of the extraordinary booster campaign… we can return to Plan A in England and allow Plan B regulations to expire,” Johnson said. Last month, England switched to “Plan B” in order to cope with what Johnson called a “tidal wave” of expected infections from the Omicron variant.

But he had to fight his own party to get the changes into law, as Conservative colleagues called the restrictions a step too far and a curb to public freedoms. The relaxing of restrictions have been seen as a concession to critics angry at revelations that he and his staff broke COVID lockdown rules by holding parties at Downing Street.

Johnson told MPs: “While there are some places where cases are likely to continue rising, including in primary schools, our scientists believe it is likely that the Omicron wave has now peaked nationally.” Secondary school pupils will no longer be