Prime Minister Boris Johnson has outlined his plan for 'living with Covid' in an address to the nation.
Flanked by Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Officer Patrick Vallance this evening, Johnson set out 'four principles' in ending all Covid restrictions in England, having earlier detailed the plan to MPs in Parliament.
Starting from this Thursday (February 24), the plan includes bringing an end to the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test and to routine contact tracing.
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What is the “living with Covid” plan
In the plan to move from "Government restrictions to personal responsibility", here are the main points from this evening's press conference from Downing Street.
End to mandatory self isolation
An end to the legal requirement to self isolate after a positive test from this Thursday (February 24).
People who test positive are still advised to stay at home and encouraged to exercise personal responsibility if they are showing Covid-19 symptoms, just as you would if you had flu.
This will also spell the end for self-isolation support payments and Covid provisions for statutory sick pay still able to be claimed for a further month.
End to contact tracing
Routine contact tracing will also end on Thursday, as will the £500 self-isolation payments and the legal obligation for individuals to tell their employers about their requirement to isolate.
Free testing scaled back
Fee universal testing will be massively scaled back from April 1 and will instead be focused on the most vulnerable while asymptomatic testing will continue for social care staff.
As of today, guidance for staff and students in most education and childcare settings to undertake twice weekly asymptomatic testing has been removed.
From April 1 free symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public will also end.
Free symptomatic tests to the oldest age groups and those most vulnerable to Covid will continue.
End to Covid passports
An end to the voluntary 'Coronavirus passport' showing people's vaccination status, although the NHS app will still allow people to prove their status.
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.
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