London, Feb 20 (BNA): British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office said it intends to make plans next week to remove self-isolation requirements for people infected with the COVID-19 virus.
Britain will become the first major European country to allow people who know they have COVID-19 to use shops and public transport and go to work freely – a move many of his health advisers believe is risky.
“Covid will not suddenly disappear, and we need to learn to live with this virus and continue to protect ourselves without limiting our freedoms,” Johnson said in a statement.
Johnson will also provide more details on how to protect Britain from future variants of the coronavirus with continued monitoring, amid reports that the government wants to end free testing and scale back public health studies.
People in England are currently legally required to self-isolate for at least five days if asked by public health officials, and isolate even without a specific order if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or test positive.
Removing legal requirements for COVID-19 self-isolation and replacing them with voluntary guidelines would bring the disease into line with the way Britain treats most other infections.
About 85% of Britain’s population of 12 years or older have had at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and two-thirds of the population – including the vast majority of those most at risk – have been exposed to three doses.
Britain’s death toll reached more than 160,000 within 28 days of infection, the second highest in Europe after the death of Russia. For Britain’s population size, it is 6% higher than the EU average.
COVID-19 restrictions are unpopular with many members of Johnson’s Conservative Party, who see them as disproportionate given the widespread use of vaccines.
“Pharmaceutical interventions, led by the vaccination programme, will remain our first line of defence,” the government said. “Awareness of public health guidelines, as with all infectious diseases such as influenza, should remain.”
HF