The level of Covid-19 infections continues to fall across Greater Manchester neighbourhoods, with some areas seeing fewer than ten cases.
27.01.2022 - 23:53 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
"I'm still wearing mine, it's still with us isn't it" says Chris Wardle as he pulls his screwed-up black cloth face mask from his coat pocket.
And he is not alone.
Today was another big milestone in the country's battle with Covid.
All the so-called 'Plan B' restrictions brought in before Christmas to try and halt the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus officially expired, with the government saying they will not be renewed.
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It means it is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face-covering in shops, public transport, or in fact any setting in England other than public transport in London.
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted saying the rules were able to be relaxed due to the success of the country's booster jab campaign but that the 'pandemic is not over yet' and that everyone 'should remain cautious.'
And walking around Manchester city centre, that sense of caution was palpable.
Of course, anecdotally, compliance with mask-wearing since the rule change during the festive period has been lower than the first part of the pandemic, with some people seemingly having gotten out of the habit during last summer's previous complete lifting of restrictions.
But today swathes of shoppers, even walking in the open air down Market Street, were still sporting the blue surgical masks, that have become such a common sight over the past 18 months, as well as their own patterned designed cloth coverings.
Signs in the windows of dozens of shops on the high street asking people to mask-up remained. In the Arndale centre, announcements were still being played over the PA system kindly requesting shoppers mask 'if you can'.
Whilst in one corner of the city's iconic shopping mall, a man stood in front of
The level of Covid-19 infections continues to fall across Greater Manchester neighbourhoods, with some areas seeing fewer than ten cases.
The Prime Minister's announcement that the legal rule to self-isolate could end this month has been branded as 'concerning' by Greater Manchester' public health leader.
A man who hired a van to dump a fridge freezer in the middle of a Salford street told council officers 'sorry, I didn’t know it was illegal'.
A huge mural showing the Prime Minister dressed as a policeman wearing a party hat has caught the eye of shoppers in Manchester.
Met Police are set to question more than 50 people as their investigations into lockdown parties at No10 continue.
Police are reviewing whether a Christmas quiz in No 10 breached coronavirus restrictions after a picture emerged showing the Prime Minister and colleagues near an open bottle of prosecco and a packet of crisps.
It was among the Victorian heritage of Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry, two and a half years ago, that Boris Johnson first made the pitch.
The Clean Air Zone for Greater Manchester has been delayed until July after facing heavy criticism, and we want to hear your thoughts on the developing situation.
Boris Johnson has told Greater Manchester residents, who were banned from mixing with other households indoors for a heartbreaking 391 days, he is 'sorry for any misjudgements' in the wake of 'partygate'.
Boris Johnson says he wants to see plans for Greater Manchester's Clean Air Zone put on hold to avoid 'stuffing up businesses'.
The mayor of Greater Manchester has vowed that Clean Air Zone charging will come to an end as soon as air quality reaches the required level.
Greater Manchester's Mayor is urging the government to 'take the politics out' of the Clean Air Zone and finally get the issue resolved.
Boris Johnson has come under severe pressure from the findings of the 'partygate' report, with 82% of people out of more than 1,200 people calling for his resignation in a Manchester Evening News survey.
Boris Johnson today said that Greater Manchester's Clean Air Zone plan is 'completely unworkable'.
The Prime Minister has been accused of attending a leaving party for one of his senior advisors when the country was in lockdown last January, reports say.
Neighbourhoods in Tameside are dominating the region’s biggest Covid-19 hotspots.
A fit and healthy police officer who ran marathons died of a heart attack seven hours after completing a standard GMP 'bleep' fitness test, an inquest heard.
Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner and other MPs will join striking bus drivers this week as passengers are warned all buses from First’s Oldham depot will again be cancelled on days of action.
A Conservative MP has said the Prime Minister was "ambushed with a cake" when, according to reports, a surprise get together was organised for his birthday back in June 2020.
From 'BYOB' to cheese and wine in the No 10 garden, the list of alleged government lockdown-busting parties continues to grow.