The U.K. Government is expected to approve the relaxation of “Plan B” COVID-19 restrictions that enforced venues over 500 capacity to require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test at the door.

The rules, introduced in December to help combat the rise of the Omicron variant, could be scrapped beginning 1/26, according to a Guardian report.

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

Prime Minister Boris 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 gigs and no-shows due to a lack of customer confidence in safety and guidance from the Government.

In this 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 with many hoops to jump through just to survive.”