UK: face masks no longer mandatory, Covid-19 passports to be dropped

Face masks will no longer be mandatory in public places and schools in England and Covid-19 passports will be dropped for large events as infections level off in large parts of the country, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday.

Johnson told lawmakers that the restrictions were being eased because government scientists believed it was likely that the surge of infections prompted by the highly contagious Omicron variant “has now peaked nationally.”

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While hospitals in northern England are still under pressure because of high caseloads, Johnson said hospital admissions and patients in intensive care units elsewhere in England were stabilizing or falling.

The government will no longer advise people to work from home and beginning next Thursday mandatory Covid-19 passes will not be required to gain entry to large-scale events.