News for Tool Hire, Equipment Hire & Plant Hire and Rental Professionals

Positive Plan A

19 January 2022

Positive Plan A

The UK Government has just announced that England's Plan B measures to control the spread of coronavirus are to end from next Thursday, 27 January, with advice to work from home and Covid passports both dropped.

The country will revert to Plan A. Face coverings will no longer be mandatory and Boris Johnson believes that all control measures will be removed by the end of March, owing to the success of the vaccine booster rollout, with more than 36 million boosters delivered across the UK.

“Today’s latest ONS data show clearly that infection levels are falling in England,” he said. “And while there are some places where cases are likely to continue rising, including in primary schools – our scientists believe it is likely that the Omicron wave has now peaked nationally.”

He continued, “From now, the government is no longer asking people to work from home and people should now speak to their employers about arrangements for returning to the office,” adding that “in the country at large, we will continue to suggest the use of face coverings in enclosed or crowded places, particularly where you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet.”

The Prime Minister also advised caution during the remaining weeks of winter as, with still over 16,000 people in hospital in England alone, “the pandemic is not over”.

Indeed, speaking to the BBC, the chief executive of NHS Providers, Chris Hopson, said that NHS trusts are telling him they do not believe the peak in hospitalisations has yet been reached, which is likely to come later this week or early next. 

Nevertheless, while we must all remain vigilant, the announcement about moving to Plan A – almost exactly two years after the first case of Covid-19 was confirmed outside of China – is a significant step in the recovery. 

And it’s hugely positive news for those wanting to get back to greater normality by attending business meetings and events, not least of which is next month’s Executive Hire Show. 

Let’s hope that the worst is indeed behind us, that further restrictions don’t need to be reintroduced and that the industry can focus on building back better, greener and stronger. 

● For more latest news stories click here


Subscribe

I am constantly adding new content. If you subscribe FREE using the form below, I'll send you my weekly bulletin summarising the latest hire industry stories - and I'll also send you a PDF of 10 fascinating interviews with national and independent hirers, giving their views about business and their secrets of success!