RIPPING UP THE RULEBOOK
Covid isolation will be SCRAPPED altogether by March, says Boris Johnson
COVID isolation will be scrapped altogether by the end of March, Boris Johnson said today.
He told the House of Commons during PMQs from March 24 the legal requirement to isolate for people who test positive is likely to be shelved.
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The PM even indicated this could happen sooner, if the data continues to look good.
Currently, people who test positive for the virus are legally obliged to isolate to protect others by not spreading it.
But just as the Plan B measures will expire next week, the PM said there will soon come a day when Brits would no longer have remain at home while infected.
He said: "As we return to Plan A, the House will know that some measures still remain, including those on self-isolation.
"In particular, it is still a legal requirement for those who have tested positive for Covid to self-isolate.
"On Monday we reduced the isolation period to five full days with two negative tests, and there will soon come a time when we can remove the legal requirement to self-isolate altogether, just as we don't place legal obligations on people to isolate if they have flu.
"As Covid becomes endemic, we will need to replace legal requirements with advice and guidance, urging people with the virus to be careful and considerate of others.
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";The self-isolation regulations expire on March 24, at which point I very much expect not to renew them.
"Indeed, were the data to allow, I'd like to seek a vote in this House to bring that date forward."
This afternoon Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor for the UK Health Security Agency, said legal requirements to isolate are just one component of testing positive however.
She added as and when rules are changed on self-isolation, more advice and guidance on what Brits who test positive should do will be offered.
Dr Hopkins said: “The recent decline in community case rates and individuals requiring hospitalisation is encouraging and it’s thanks to the public, who have taken up vaccination and followed the Plan B measures closely, that we’ve got to this point.
“However we should not be complacent. The pandemic is not over yet and we will need to remain cautious to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in our communities."
It comes as the PM ripped up Plan B restrictions in a major statement this afternoon.
He confirmed working from home guidance and vaccine passports will be scrapped next Wednesday, with the measures set to expire.
Mask-wearing rules are likely to stay on public transport, but not by law anymore and instead recommended through guidance.
As The Sun revealed, masks in classrooms will be dropped tomorrow and scrapped entirely in schools on January 26.
Mr Johnson said: "While we must continue to remain cautious, the data are showing that time and again, this Government, got the toughest decisions, right."
As of Monday, people in England who test positive can leave home after five full days.
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But the confusing detail of the new rules means anyone isolating will technically have to do so for six, not five, days.
This is because the first full day of isolation is NOT the day you test positive or noticed symptoms - although you must still isolate following either of these events.
That day is now known as "day zero", with the next day counting as day one, the UK Health Security Agency confirmed.
Covid patients must then test negative on lateral flow tests on day five and six in order to be released from isolation.
An example timeline is as follows:
Monday = Day 0 (when you develop symptoms or get a positive test)
Tuesday = Day 1
Wednesday = Day 2
Thursday = Day 3
Friday = Day 4
Saturday = Day 5 - first lateral flow test
Sunday = Day 6 – second lateral flow test and if both are negative you can leave isolation
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