Let’s all move to Covid-19 Plan A with caution

Cheshire East Council is asking residents to remain cautious, following the announcement by government that the measures put in place under plan B in England will be lifted from (today) 27th January 2022.

Wearing face masks and working from home are no longer a requirement but remain effective ways to protect yourself from Covid. However, there is still a legal requirement in place until 24 March 2022, to self-isolate if you test positive for Covid-19. Covid passports have also been dropped.

Latest figures released on the official UK government website (21 January) show the rate of positive cases in Cheshire East is still very high at 1,038 per 100,000 population. The rate per 100,000 population in the North West is 877 and 988 in England. 

Dr Matt Tyrer, director of public health at Cheshire East Council, said: “Firstly I would like to thank all of our residents who have taken up the offer of vaccinations as well as for supporting the Plan B measures in place since December last year.

“But the pandemic is far from over yet and we all need to remain cautious and it’s in our hands to do what we can to help stop the spread of Covid-19 and protect ourselves and others.”

The most important measures residents can take are:

• Get vaccinated and get your booster dose by going to the NHS website vaccinations page
• Although no longer a legal requirement, to wear a face covering in most indoor public places and on public transport
• Let fresh air in if you meet indoors. Meeting outdoors is safer
• Keep testing regularly, report your rapid lateral flow test result and self-isolate if required.

Additionally, from 11 February 2022, if you’re fully vaccinated you will no longer need to take a Covid-19 test either before or after arrival in the UK. You still need to complete a passenger locator form.

If you are not fully vaccinated, you will need to take a pre-departure test and a PCR test on or before day 2 after you arrive in the UK. You will not need to quarantine unless the result of the PCR test is positive. You still need to complete a passenger locator form.

For all the latest information on Covid-19 testing, vaccinations, support and guidance, please go to:

council’s Covid-19 web pages.