If everything had gone to plan there would have been just a few pandemic related rules left in place next Friday. However, the unflagging constancy of Covid's ability to disrupt Government plans is evident again.
Somethings would have stayed the same after 22 October, though. These include the requirement to wear masks on public transport and in healthcare and retail settings.
Those with Covid symptoms would have had to continue to self-isolate and a Covid certificate would still be needed for foreign travel.
But all other remaining restrictions were set to be lifted. The limit on crowd numbers at indoor and outdoor events were envisaged to be a thing of the past.