# UK Opening Up **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [January 21, 2022, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-opening-up/958137 "2022-01-21T01:55:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2022, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-opening-up/958137/1 "2022-01-21T01:55:33Z")
Delete ```auto ``` ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2022, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-opening-up/958137/2 "2022-01-21T11:20:53Z")
Not sure why the OP was deleted but yes, England at least is “opening up”. > **[Covid: Face mask rules and Covid passes to end in England](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60047438)** > > Working from home guidance is also ending as England reverts to "Plan A", Boris Johnson says. And I’m sure the abrupt “You’re all free to do whatever you want! Everything’s fine!” approach from Westminster has _nothing whatsoever_ with the nuclear dumpster fire that is the Boris Johnson administration at present. Scotland remain under various restrictions. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2022, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-opening-up/958137/3 "2022-01-21T18:04:31Z")
(Couldn’t get the link to work for the cite) ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-opening-up/958137/4 "2022-01-25T18:13:11Z")
All four of the different countries in the UK have different rules, but they are all ‘opening up’ at least a little over the coming week, although England does appear to be abandoning any official rules beyond compulsory self-isolation, and even that is due to end in March. The changes are here: > **[Covid: What is the guidance across the UK now?](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-52530518)** > > Almost all of the UK's Covid rules have ended, two years after they were introduced. ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-opening-up/958137/5 "2022-01-25T22:13:45Z")
UK is about as immune to covid as you can get. Nearly 100% of adults (16+) have some kind of immunity. Nearly \> 95% of 65+ are boostered. \> 80% of 50+ are boostered. I personally think that public masking at essential services and offices should still be a thing until their numbers go down a bit more. That will protect people vulnerable people. Otherwise, why not? Deaths have increased a bit but have recently plateaued. ICU patients never rose above the low levels they’ve had since the summer. In fact, the numbers are decreasing. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-opening-up/958137/6 "2022-01-26T17:22:05Z")
> [@Tfletch1](#): > > I personally think that public masking at essential services and offices should still be a thing until their numbers go down a bit more. You’re not alone in thinking that. > **[Sainsbury's and John Lewis asks shoppers and staff to keep wearing masks](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60137428)** > > John Lewis, Waitrose and Morrisons will also ask customers to keep wearing masks in their shops when Plan B rules end. > **Retailers Sainsbury’s, John Lewis and Waitrose will continue to ask customers in England to wear masks in their shops when Plan B rules end on Thursday.** > > Rail operators also said passengers would be expected to wear masks when the legal requirement for face coverings in public places is dropped. It’s nice to see that there are plenty of organisations willing to take a responsible position. j ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-opening-up/958137/7 "2022-01-26T17:55:57Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > It’s nice to see that there are plenty of organisations willing to take a responsible position Gotta wonder how much pushback these businesses will get from “Boris said you’re not the boss of me” COVIDiot maskholes. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-opening-up/958137/8 "2022-01-26T18:58:39Z")
The supermarkets/stores listed ( **Sainsbury’s, John Lewis and Waitrose** ) are, well, the upper end of the market; I would expect compliance would be pretty good. When it comes to other stores… Actually, I did a little google and found this “survey” of stores: > **[Supermarkets issue guidance to customers on masks after Plan B](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/mask-rules-guidance-aldi-asda-22877597)** > > Customers will be encouraged to make a 'considerate choice' about wearing face coverings in England from after January 26 I would place the stores in this little sub-debate in the following order, high end to low: Waitrose/John Lewis, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Tesco, Aldi, Asda, Lidl. By the time you get to Tesco customers, frankly I don’t blame the store for not pushing mask wearing. That way they’ll just get non-masking instead of boorish, antagonistic non-masking. j ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-opening-up/958137/9 "2022-01-29T01:45:49Z")
Denmark is following,