After the government announced sweeping changes to COVID restrictions in England, most people are facing radical changes to their everyday lives.

From 19 July, masks will no longer be mandatory, there will be no limit on capacity in pubs and restaurants, and guidance encouraging people to work from home if they can will be scrapped.

From 16 August, people in England who are double-vaccinated will no longer have to self-isolate if they come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

And there will be wholesale changes to how schools manage the pandemic.

Sky News asked some of those affected what they thought of the government’s bonfire of restrictions.

Children at Worthington Primary School in Sale, Greater Manchester, said they were delighted the school bubble system was being scrapped.

Mia, 11, said she would rather not isolate if she has not tested positive for coronavirus herself.

She told Sky News: “It would make me feel really sad if I had to spend all that time at home. I love being in school and I like being with my friends.

“I think it’s a good idea that they remove the bubbles because it means that we can still learn in class and it will also mean we don’t miss out on really important things in year six.”

Zach, also 11, said isolating earlier this year was “horrible” and it made him feel “sad”.

He added: “It was hard to work from home and I would rather have been in school because I just wanted to be with my friends. You’ll (now) still be able to be in class.”

Their headteacher, Clive Searle, was more circumspect however.

“I think the 19th (of July) is still too soon for me,” he said.

“I’m quite conservative with a ‘small c’ – I like to be measured and think about how this is going to impact on our school, and I think all head teachers will want to do that.”

He added: “I don’t see many just jumping away from what we’ve been doing for the last year, and moving towards the new 19th of July rules.”

At a vaccination centre in York, Jackie Dakin was receiving her second jab.

Despite immunisation making her “more confident”, she told Sky News she will continue to wear a mask, adding: “I’m still not completely sure I trust all the government’s advice.”

Janine Power, who was also there, said being fully vaccinated makes her feel “a bit less nervous”.

But she too is worried about ditching masks. “I find that slightly worrying, to be honest,” she said.

“I think personally I’ll continue to wear mine because obviously the virus isn’t going anywhere.”

Regarding people who are double-jabbed not having to self-isolate from 16 August, she said: “It’s all brand new information, so it’s not really sunk in yet.

“I don’t want to isolate – but also if I know that I’ve got (COVID) I don’t want to pass it on to other people.”

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