This week, England reverted to Plan A. Face coverings are no longer mandatory in most situations; venues and event organisers no longer need to check visitors’ NHS COVID-19 Pass; and the government is no longer asking people to work from home if they can.
And yet, case rates of coronavirus in Devon are rising, mostly prevalent among the primary and secondary school age population.
Steve Brown, Devon’s Director of Public Health, is continuing to advise caution.
The Omicron variant, we know, is highly infectious. And however it arrives in a family home, it quickly spreads to others.
Thanks to the vaccine, people generally are not becoming seriously ill. But the vaccine doesn’t totally prevent people from catching coronavirus.
That’s why it’s important to carry on doing everything we can to reduce the risk of infection.
Some supermarkets this week have said they’ll continue to encourage their customers to wear face coverings in their stores. And some transport providers are saying similar – although it’s no longer a legal requirement to wear a face covering, they are encouraging their passengers to keep wearing them in crowded spaces.
So although the restrictions have changed, please continue to be cautious. Think of the risk to you and to others, and respect people’s personal choices.