Prime minister Boris Johnson has said that all remaining Covid restrictions, including self-isolation laws, will be scrapped this month if positive trends in the data continue.
The rules had been expected to be lifted on the expiration date of March 24, but the PM has now moved to lift the restrictions a month in advance should the trajectory of the virus not change.
Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, Johnson said: “It is my intention to return on the first day after the half-term recess to present our strategy for living with Covid.
“Provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions - including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive - a full month early.”
Johnson said that he is planning to confirm the end of self-isolation rules on February 21, when he is due to outline the living with Covid strategy.
With an upcoming relaxation of travel rules for those coming into the UK due to be implemented on February 11, the PM could also provide a further update on travel laws when he sets out the future Covid strategy ten days later.
From February 11, fully vaccinated people entering the UK will not need to take Covid tests, while unvaccinated travellers will still need to test but will not need to isolate. A passenger locator form still needs to be completed by all arrivals.
Meanwhile, Brits travelling abroad will still be required to comply with travel laws in force in the destination country.
Health secretary, Sajid Javid, hailed the UK as the “freest country in Europe”, declaring that the nation is “learning to live with Covid.”
Daily cases in the UK have been on the decline since the end of January, with 66,183 reported on Tuesday [February 8].
The Office for National Statistics indicated that in the week up to February 5, over one in every 20 people had the virus, but daily deaths within 28 days of a positive test have plunged to an average of just over 250 per day.
On Tuesday, 314 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were declared. However, the BBC reports that amid high infection rates, people with Covid who die of other causes could be being included on the list of Covid deaths.
In England and Wales, the BBC says that there are roughly 100 fewer deaths each day where a doctor registered Covid as the main cause of death, compared to the daily reported figures of deaths occurring within 28 days of testing positive.
During Wednesday’s session, Johnson was accused by Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, of “turning a blind eye” to Covid business loan fraud and failing to properly address the cost-of-living crisis.
Johnson once again ruled out the prospect of imposing a windfall tax on energy firms to offset high utilities bills for households, despite sector operators like BP enjoying high profits.
The PM also insisted that the government was taking a tough stance on all incidents of crime and that the money lost to fraudulent Covid loan claims would not be written off.
The Downing Street ‘partygate’ saga also took a fresh twist as the session was underway, with the Daily Mirror publishing a photo of the prime minister stood next to a bottle of champagne at what appeared to be a Christmas gathering in Downing Street.
Johnson was photographed standing behind two members of staff who were wearing festive attire.
The Daily Mirror reports that the photo originated from December 15, 2020, during a “virtual” Christmas quiz which took place in Downing Street.
The event concerned first came to light in December 2021, when a photo was leaked to the media showing Johnson sat at a table with two colleagues.
At the time that the first photo emerged and news of the gathering broke, Downing Street said that the PM “briefly took part virtually” in the gathering to thank staff for their hard work and commitment during the pandemic. The latest photo, if proven to be taken on the same day, throws those claims into major doubt.
Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons
