England to return to Plan A
===========================

**The government has [announced that England’s COVID-19 measures will revert from Plan B to Plan A.](https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDcsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAxMjEuNTIxNDg4MjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5nb3YudWsvZ292ZXJubWVudC9uZXdzL2VuZ2xhbmQtdG8tcmV0dXJuLXRvLXBsYW4tYS1mb2xsb3dpbmctdGhlLXN1Y2Nlc3Mtb2YtdGhlLWJvb3N0ZXItcHJvZ3JhbW1lIn0.Q4ShYX6b6QpH30DhgztRSFyOCSiUdfch0AH6VPWN-zM%2Fs%2F172374962%2Fbr%2F125442620273-l&data=04%7C01%7Cmike.bomford%40devon.gov.uk%7C4f03d96d3b804ae2e13408d9dcf383c7%7C8da13783cb68443fbb4b997f77fd5bfb%7C0%7C0%7C637783760842793181%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=U4HwTDzPpj5xl9KFi43ogcXvh%2FjJkubkJf4cMJrDYsU%3D&reserved=0)**

This means:

- the government is no longer asking people to work from home if they can. People should now talk to their employers to agree arrangements to return to the office
- face coverings are no longer required for staff and pupils in secondary schools and college classrooms
- **from 27 January**, face coverings will no longer be required for staff and pupils in communal areas of secondary schools, nor for staff in communal areas of primary schools
- **from 27 January**, there is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face covering in public indoor places. The government suggests that you continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you may come into contact with other people you do not normally meet
- **from 27 January**, venues and events will no longer be required by law to check visitors’ NHS COVID Pass. The NHS COVID Pass can still be used on a voluntary basis

[Visit the government website to find out more about the changes, and what you can do to stay safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.](https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnks.gd%2Fl%2FeyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDgsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjAxMjEuNTIxNDg4MjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5nb3YudWsvZ3VpZGFuY2UvY292aWQtMTktY29yb25hdmlydXMtcmVzdHJpY3Rpb25zLXdoYXQteW91LWNhbi1hbmQtY2Fubm90LWRvIn0.nlfwNK0fG7YZFmoIOm7nsgcQiiIEChKgrLwBW_Dbttw%2Fs%2F172374962%2Fbr%2F125442620273-l&data=04%7C01%7Cmike.bomford%40devon.gov.uk%7C4f03d96d3b804ae2e13408d9dcf383c7%7C8da13783cb68443fbb4b997f77fd5bfb%7C0%7C0%7C637783760842793181%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=2duWNL1uRhvM%2Fo5WR0XNeHffv6V8tLuXWJfJbzOQeCY%3D&reserved=0)