Today (Monday) will herald a new stage in the pandemic as the wearing of masks in retail settings and on public transport is no longer mandatory.
Public health measures in schools – such as masks, pods and staggered arrival times – will also come to an end.
Hospitality workers are no longer required to wear a face covering and masks are no longer mandatory on public transport.
However, wearing a face covering is still advised under public health guidance.
The rules on close contacts have also changed for everyone except healthcare workers.
From today, anyone who is a close contact but does not have symptoms does not have to test or isolate, regardless of their vaccination status. However symptomatic close contacts are still advised to isolate.
Healthcare workers who have a confirmed case of Covid-19 in their homes will have to take antigen tests and follow different guidance than the general public.
Less restrictions and less testing will become the norm.
