All the Covid rule changes STILL to come after masks & passes ditched

MAJOR Covid rule changes came into force in England from midnight.

And there are still more to come – with an end to Covid self-isolation and more relaxed travel rules both on the agenda in coming months.

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Covid tests for vaccinated holidaymakers will be scrapped from 4am on February 11.

And from Monday, there will be no limit on the number of visitors allowed into care homes.

Meanwhile in March, self isolation rules will expire all together – meaning people who test positive for Covid are not legally obliged to isolate.

Last week, Boris Johnson triumphantly declared that the latest wave of the milder Omicron variant has already peaked.

He told the Commons: “Our scientists believe it is likely the Omicron wave has now peaked nationally.

“Because of the extraordinary booster campaign, together with the way the public have responded to the Plan B measures, we can return to Plan A in England and allow Plan B regulations to expire.

“We will set out our long-term strategy for living with Covid 19, explaining how we hope and intend to protect our liberty and avoid restrictions in future by relying instead on medical advances – especially the vaccines which have already saved so many lives. 

“But to make that possible, we must all remain cautious during these last weeks of winter.”

TRAVEL RULES

All Covid tests for vaccinated holidaymakers will be scrapped from 4am on February 11.

Grant Shapps said that arrivals will only need to fill in a Passenger Locator Form when entering the UK, as long as they have had both jabs.

He said: “From 4am on February 11, and in time for the half-term break, eligible, fully vaccinated passengers arriving in the UK will no longer have to take a post-arrival lateral flow test.

“That means after months of pre-departure testing, post-arrival testing, self-isolation and additional expense, all that fully vaccinaated people will have to do when they travel to the UK is to verify their status via Passenger Locator Form.

“We are therefore scrapping all travel tests for vaccinated people, not only making travel much easier, but also saving about £100 per family on visits abroad.”

In a double-boost for half-term holidays, 12-to-15-year-olds will be able to download the digital proof of vaccination, Shapps confirmed.

CARE HOMES

In a hugely positive step for elderly and vulnerable Brits who have faced isolation since March 2020, the Health Secretary revealed rules on visiting will finally end.

From Monday, January 31, there will be no limit on the number of visitors allowed into care homes and self-isolation periods will be cut, the Department for Health says.

Care homes will only have to follow outbreak management rules for 14 rather than 28 days.

Quarantine will be cut from 15 days to 10 days for those who test positive – with further reductions if they test negative on days five and six.

Isolation periods for those in care following an emergency hospital visit are also being reduced from 14 to 10 days.

In addition, workers will be asked to start using lateral flow tests before their shifts instead of weekly PCR tests from February 16.

Essential care givers should continue to be able to visit homes even during periods of outbreak affecting a care home.

SELF ISOLATION

Isolation rules are set to expire on March 24 – or sooner – meaning people who test positive for Covid are not legally obliged to isolate.

Currently everyone who tests positive for the virus must quarantine at home for at least five full days – and this is NOT changing.

If you return two negative lateral flow swabs on days five and six you can then leave isolation early.

Fully vaccinated Brits who come into contact with an infected person should test daily but don’t have to isolate so long as they remain negative.

Meanwhile unvaccinated people who are close contacts of Covid sufferers must go into quarantine for 10 days.

There are fines of up to £10,000 for flouting the laws.

It could be scrapped in March however, if cases remain low and no more severe variants emerged.

RULES ALREADY DROPPED

Rules on wearing masks in public places in England were ripped up at midnight.

Brits are now able to go into shops, post offices, banks, beauty salons, hairdressers, theatres and cinemas without masks.

However, people are still advised to continue wearing them in busy areas or on public transport.

Meanwhile, Brits no longer have to show proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter large venues like football grounds and nightclubs.

And workers were told to flock back to offices on Friday January 21 in a major boost to the economy.

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