The rule has been in place since the start of the pandemic
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that the government intends to lift the requirement to self isolate if testing positive for COVID a month early.
The legal requirement was due to be lifted in England on March 24.
The Prime Minister said that if the “current encouraging trends continue” then domestic restrictions will be lifted earlier than planned, the BBC reports.
The current rules meant that anyone who tests positive for covid-19 must self-isolate for at least five days.
People are then able to leave isolation if they have two negative lateral flow test results, 24 hours apart.
But speaking to MPs at the start of Prime Minister’s Questions, Johnson said: “It is my intention to return on the first day after the half-term recess to present our strategy for living with Covid.
“Provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions – including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive – a full month early.”
The Prime Minister said the government will outline its full strategy for living with covid after parliamentary recess, which is from February 21.
Boris Johnson will set out 'living with Covid' plans after February recess is trends continue…
"It is my expectation that we’ll be able to end the last domestic restrictions, including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive, a full month early.”#PMQs— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) February 9, 2022
Self isolation rules vary across the four nations of the United Kingdom.
In Scotland and Wales you must self-isolate for at least seven days – as soon as symptoms appear or you test positive.
Rules in Northern Ireland are currently the same as in England.
The proposed change to the law will only apply to England, with the devolved governments on Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland having the power to set their own Covid restrictions.
Related links:
- Boris Johnson’s tweet after Starmer mob harassment slammed as ‘most cynical ever‘
- Signs you may have already had Covid without knowing about it
- Daily covid death figures to be dropped as ‘we learn to live’ with virus
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