People in Bradford urged to remain vigilant as COVID-19 'Plan B' restrictions lifted

Measures put in place last December under "Plan B" are now being lifted, meaning:

• the Government is no longer asking people to work from home if they can
• face coverings are no longer advised for staff and pupils in secondary school and college classrooms
• face coverings are no longer advised for staff and pupils in communal areas of secondary schools, nor for staff in communal areas of primaries
• there is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face covering, although the Government suggests 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
• venues and events are no longer required by law to check visitors’ NHS COVID Pass. The NHS COVID Pass can still be used on a voluntary basis

However, with infection rates still high in the North, the "Let’s Keep West Yorkshire going!" campaign is asking people in Bradford to remain cautious and do what we can to reduce the spread of the virus in our communities, and get back to normal sooner.

'COVID hasn't gone away'

Like other COVID-19 waves, the surge of the Omicron variant of the virus has had significant impact on West Yorkshire. As well as the risk to people’s health, there are increasing pressure on public services, business, industry, retail, hospitality, and the economy with high infection rates leading to significant staff shortages impacting on service delivery and the area’s economy.

Despite the end of Plan B restrictions, people are asked to get vaccinated, wear a mask in crowded or enclosed spaces and take a test before meeting with people outside their household or going back to work.

Sarah Muckle, Public Health Director for Bradford City Council and member of West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership Sector Leads, said: “The campaign is a reminder to us all should we need one that COVID hasn’t gone away."

You can help keep West Yorkshire going by spreading the campaign messages by searching for #KeepWYGoing or following West Yorkshire Prepared on Facebook (@WYPrepared) or Twitter (@WYRForum), and West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership on Twitter (@WYpartnership).

You can also download free assets to use here.