BORIS JOHNSON OUTLINES HIS PLAN TO END COVID RESTRICTIONS IN ENGLAND STARTING THIS THURSDAY WITH THE END OF SELF-ISOLATION

Free Lateral Flow and PCR Testing Axed From April 1st, Legal Self Isolation To End This Thursday 24th Feb, Sick Pay Downgraded From 24th March as Boris declares England to be past peak Omicron.

In a dramatic statement in the commons, Boris Johnson tore up the laws as he confirmed that those who have the covid virus will no longer be required to stay at home in England, However government guidance is still for people to stay at home if they Covid, rather than going to work and infecting their colleagues.

He told MPs:

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"It is time that we got our confidence back. We don't need laws to compel people to be considerate to others.

"We can rely on that sense of responsibility towards one another by providing practical advice in the knowledge that people will follow it to protect their loved ones.

"So let us learn to live with is protecting ourselves and others without restricting our freedoms."

 

The Government is now focussing on monitoring the virus with an emphasis on keeping a watchfull eye on emerging variants, however the infrastructure will be kept in place should we need a quick response in the future.

The cost of testing alone is estimated by some financial analysts to be around £2bn per month and is deemed to be unsustainable, although it will be kept for those over 80-years. 

Despite the huge cost of testing, experts have voiced caution about cutting the provision as well as fears that the removal of restrictions to soon could bring further outbreaks.

The PM told the house that Covid has not gone away but that at this point the country needs to now learn to live with it in the same way we live with seasonal Flu strains.

Mask wearing has already been scrapped in most venues in England when the Plan B measures were axed.

Although there are still some venues where they remain legally enforceable, but soon face the chop.

Currently people are still asked to cover up in health and care settings including hospitals, GP surgeries and pharmacies, and nursing homes.

Schools also currently still have the power to order mask wearing in communal areas like corridors and canteens to fight local outbreaks should they occur.

Mass vaccination as well as the more dominant Omicron strain being milder has lead to a situation in which England is in a good place to be able to re-establish more of the freedoms we have had to give up over the past 2-years.

he PM, Said:

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"Today will mark a moment of pride after one of the most difficult periods in our country’s history as we begin to learn to live with Covid.

"It would not be possible without the efforts of so many – the NHS who delivered the life-saving vaccine rollout at phenomenal speed, our world-leading scientists and experts, and the general public for their commitment to protecting themselves and their loved ones. 

"The pandemic is not over but thanks to the incredible vaccine rollout we are now one step closer towards a return to normality and finally giving people back their freedoms while continuing to protect ourselves and others."

 

Reacting to the PM's statement, Opposition Leader Sir Kier Starmer, said:

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"What I can't understand is why the PM is taking away the tools that allow them to do that, he says.

"Free testing can't go on forever, but if you're 2-1 up with 10 minutes to go you don't sub off one of your best defenders.

"Sir Keir says the PM is also removing self-isolation support payments that allow people to isolate and 'weakening' sick pay.

"These decisions will hit the lowest-paid the hardest, It is all very well advising workers to self-isolate but that won't work unless all workers have the security of knowing they can afford to do so."

 

He went on to call for the Government to release the scientific data used when deciding on his latest measures.