BUSINESSES inside an underground leisure complex in Bradford have hailed Plan B measures being dropped in England as a ‘fantastic' boost.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs in the House of Commons more than 90 per cent of over-60s across the UK have now had booster vaccines to protect them, and scientists believed the Omicron wave has peaked.

People will no longer be told to work from home and, from Thursday next week when Plan B measures lapse, mandatory Covid passes will end, Mr Johnson said.

 

The legal requirement for people with coronavirus to self-isolate will also be allowed to lapse when the regulations expire on March 24, and that date could be brought forward.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Luke Sanderson, top right, bar manager at Wallers Brewery, Sunbridgewells, backs the lifting of the restrictions Luke Sanderson, top right, bar manager at Wallers Brewery, Sunbridgewells, backs the lifting of the restrictions

When it comes to face masks, the Government will no longer make people wear them anywhere from next Thursday and they will be scrapped in classrooms from this Thursday, with school communal areas to follow.

Business owners and managers at Bradford's Sunbridgewells have backed the restrictions being lifted, seeing it as a boost to trade there.

Adam Harrison, who runs the H&L Bath Bombs micro stall at the site, said: “It’s going to be good, if everything goes back to normal.

“Everyone has been battered and bruised by it all. Hopefully it will be new year, new start and everyone can get back to normal.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Adam Harrison, who runs the H&L Bath Bombs micro stall at SunbridgewellsAdam Harrison, who runs the H&L Bath Bombs micro stall at Sunbridgewells

“Business is slowly building back up.

“Hopefully people will realise they don’t have to be locked in their homes and will explore more.”

Lina Easter, who runs the Coffee Booth, said: “It’s excellent news.

“It’s been really quiet, but hopefully it will pick up more.

“I have regular customers who have been working from home and only coming into the office once a week, so I should see more of them now.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Lina Easter, owner of the Coffee Booth at Sunbridgewells Lina Easter, owner of the Coffee Booth at Sunbridgewells

Luke Sanderson, bar manager at Wallers Brewery, said: “I really hope footfall will improve now.

“It’s just been such a drastic change for everyone over the last two years.

“It’s fantastic, I wholeheartedly welcome it and it will be nice to see this place thrive.”