This article only applies to England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
“I don’t want to be a super-spreader!”
Science teacher Sophia Mitchell, 40, from Buntingford, Hertfordshire..
“There comes a time when we have to live with Covid, but the virus has not gone away. So it’s important to stay alert. I run Lab Tots teaching kids about science in a fun and interactive way so they know everything about hand sanitizing. Opening windows is the norm and I separate year groups.
“Wearing a mask is still mandatory for me in class and in the schools I attend. I will continue to wear a mask in stores and isolate myself completely if I get the virus again.
“I am vulnerable, I have type 1 diabetes, and I am also self-employed. I must be careful. Lockdown means I’m not getting paid, so it’s vital that I keep myself and others safe.”
“It’s about using common sense”
Barbershop owner Michelle Drury-Lopez, 46, lives in Oxshott, Surrey..
“I have a responsibility to my clients at Mint Salon. We still use hand sanitizer, clean chairs between cuts, and happily wear masks for vulnerable or concerned customers.
“We have to go back to normal at some point and people I know who have recently had Covid have had mild symptoms.
“It’s about common sense. I will wear a mask on public transport as it is a small space with a lot of people.”
“I’ll raise a pint for more business”
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Host Lucy Do, 40, owner of the Dodo micropub in Hanwell, West London..
“If easing Covid rules means we bring players back to pre-pandemic levels, I’ll raise pale ale to that! It’s certainly been a brutal couple of years, with business down 18 percent in 2021.
“But I will continue to do everything in my power to stop the spread of Covid. We have hand sanitizers at every table, we encourage people to get tested before entering and we ask them to be seated whenever possible.”
“Disguising ourselves as supplies”
Alyssa Garnham, 34, runs a party shop and balloon delivery service in Brighton..
“Covid laws are lifted which will boost my balloon business. But my team at Peach Blossom would rightly be nervous if we suddenly stopped following security measures overnight.
“We are a small business and that means if one of us needs to isolate, it causes stress. And since I am self-employed, not being able to work also affects my income.
“Therefore, we will leave the screen around the cash register in the store for now and continue to disguise ourselves upon delivery.”
How to live with Covid-19
Get your jabs
Vaccines are our best defense against serious illness caused by Covid. People who haven’t been injected are more likely to end up in the hospital, so roll up your sleeves!
open windows
Stop Covid virus particles from hanging by opening windows. Breathe in fresh air for ten minutes every hour. Roll down the windows in your car too if you are sharing with someone outside of your family.
disguise
Do not pass the virus on to others. If you have Covid, you may not even know it - a third of us have no symptoms. But contagious droplets are released when you exhale. Wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose in enclosed public places.
Self-isolation
If you are not feeling well, stay at home, get tested and avoid contact with other people.
The main symptoms of Covid:
• High fever - you will be hot to the touch on your chest or back.
• New continuous cough - coughing for more than an hour or three or more episodes of coughing within 24 hours (if you already have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• Loss or change in smell or taste.
• In Scotland, continue to self-isolate if you have symptoms.
For more information visit gov.uk/coronavirus.
For more information about guiding in Northern Ireland visit nidirect.gov.uk/coronavirus
For more information about guiding in Scotland visit gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19