English people with COVID-19 will no longer be forced to quarantine from next week, the government has announced.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a plan on Sunday to “live with COVID-19”. The number of tests could also be reduced.
Mr Johnson says ending restrictions will allow people to “protect themselves without restricting [ses] freedoms”. He expects to present the terms of this plan to Parliament on Monday.
“I’m not saying we’re going to throw caution to the wind, but the time to regain confidence has come,” the Prime Minister said in an interview with the BBC. We have reached a stage where it is time to rebalance things, to move away from government obligations, to cease certain types of action and to encourage individual responsibility. »
However, some government science advisers believe the decision is reckless. This could lead to a spike in infections and weaken the country’s ability to defend against future, even more virulent strains.
For the Labor opposition spokesman, Wes Steeting, Boris Johnson “declares victory before the war is over”.
The Conservative government had already lifted several restrictions put in place in England in January, in particular the obligation of the vaccine passport in the rooms and even that of wearing a face covering, with the exception of hospitals. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own public health rules. They prefer to lift the restrictions at a slower pace.
So far, the lifting of restrictions has not caused a sudden spike in hospitalizations and deaths. The UK has paid the highest human price in Europe, behind Russia, with more than 160,000 deaths.
In Britain, 85% of people aged 12 and over have received two doses of the vaccine. Almost two-thirds received a booster dose.
The government says it will abandon “all remaining domestic measures restricting freedom”.
The requirement to self-isolate for at least five days after testing positive for COVID-19 will be replaced with guidance. COVID-19 will be treated as the flu when it becomes more endemic.
The government relies on vaccination and treatment to control the coronavirus. However, he warned that “monitoring systems and contingency measures would be put back in place” if necessary.
“COVID will not suddenly disappear. We will have to learn to live with the virus and continue to protect ourselves without restricting our freedoms,” Johnson said.