All Covid restrictions will end in England from today and free mass testing will stop from April 1.
Boris Johnson has revealed his plan to ’live with covid’ as the legal requirement to isolate is dropped. The prime minister also announced that the provision of free testing would be targeted to the most vulnerable from April 1.
The latest updates to covid restrictions from today (February 24) are:
People who test positive for Covid will no longer be legally required to self-isolate
But they will still be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with others for at least five full days
Routine contact tracing will end, so fully-vaccinated close contacts and those under 18 will no longer be legally required to test daily for seven days
The £500 self-isolation support payment for people on low incomes who test positive for Covid will no longer be available
Covid provisions for increased statutory sick pay will apply for a further month
From 1 April:
Free mass symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public will end, and will instead be targeted towards the most vulnerable
People with Covid symptoms will be asked to exercise personal responsibility when deciding whether to stay at home - until then they are still advised to do so
Current government guidance on Covid passports will end and it will no longer recommend venues use the NHS Covid pass