Boris Johnson press conference: Covid isolation & testing rule changes expected

Boris Johnson will meet with his Cabinet on Monday morning before updating MPs in the afternoon on his blueprint for moving out of the pandemic.

He said the proposal would be about “finally giving people back their freedom” after “one of the most difficult periods in our country’s history”.

Following his statement to the House of Commons, the Conservative Party leader is expected to give a press conference in the evening.

The Prime Minister’s announcement will come 24 hours after it was confirmed The Queen had tested positive for coronavirus.

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Covid testing and self-isolation rule changes

The requirement to wear masks in public places was abolished in England last month. Picture: PA

As announced on Saturday, the UK Government is planning to scrap the legal duty for those who test positive for coronavirus to have to self-isolate by the end of the week.

According to the Mail On Sunday (MoS), the requirement will be lifted by Thursday.

The newspaper said the Prime Minister will set out a timetable for scaling back the availability of free coronavirus tests – although older and vulnerable people will continue to have access to them.

Mr Johnson told the BBC’s Sunday Morning programme the UK spent £2 billion on testing in January alone and that such high expenditure did not need to continue.

Plan B measures designed to slow the spread of Omicron, such as the requirement to wear masks in public places and the use of Covid passes for large events, were abolished in England last month.

Covid vaccination programme continues

More than 81% of adults in England have received a Covid vaccine booster dose. Picture: PA

Downing Street said the plan for living with Covid-19 would be “vaccine led”, with the programme remaining open to those who have not yet had a jab.

According to Number 10, the vaccination programme had left England in a “strong position to consider lifting the remaining legal restrictions”, with more than 81% of adults having received a booster dose, and Covid cases continuing to fall.

As of Sunday, UK Government data shows that 11,555 people are currently in hospital with the illness, with 331 of those in ventilation beds.

The UK was one of the worst hit Europe nations during the first wave of coronavirus in spring 2020, with more than 181,000 people having Covid-19 recorded on their death certificate.

Mr Johnson told the BBC that Britain was in a “different world” after coming out of the Omicron variant wave, with the numbers of patients in intensive care “way down”.

Speaking before his announcement on Monday, the Prime Minister said: “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.”

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PM refuses to rule out further lockdowns

Boris Johnson has refused to rule out further lockdowns saying he would have to be “humble in the face of nature”. Picture: PA

Despite his confidence, the Prime Minister has refused to rule out further lockdowns should future mutations not prove to be mild as predicted, saying he would have to be “humble in the face of nature”.

The Prime Minister, along with about 50 officials, are currently under police investigation following claims that lockdown-breaking parties were held in No 10.

But the MoS said passenger locator forms are likely to continue to be required for travellers until the spring.