U.K. TO SCRAP PLAN B RULES

The U.K. Government has approved the relaxation of “Plan B” Covid restrictions that enforced venues over 500 capacity to require proof of vaccination or a negative test on the door.

The rules, which were introduced in December to help combat the rise of the Omicron variant, will be scrapped beginning 1/26, according to today’s announcement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

At the same time, advice recommending working from home will be dropped alongside mandated mask-wearing on public transport and in shops.

Johnson is said to be drawing up plans to let the U.K. “live with the virus” beginning in March, when a number of legislative measures, including mandatory self-isolation for positive COVID cases, are set to expire.

Despite gigs being able to go ahead, the live-music sector in the U.K. is still suffering; venue owners and promoters are reporting reduced ticket sales, canceled performances and no-shows due to a lack of customer confidence in safety and guidance from the government.

In a report for The Independent, Mark Davyd, CEO of the Music Venue Trust, said grassroots venues in particular are “emerging into 2022 with more than £100m in new debt, a crisis in audience and industry confidence and many hoops to jump through just to survive.”

Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, welcomed the removal of restrictions but also warned of a rocky road ahead. “With the devastating losses over the festive period, and the effects of limited cash flow being felt across the sector, our industry has been placed in an extremely fragile state, and without question will need further financial relief and support to survive.”