Boris Johnson Announces Earlier End To Covid-19 Self-Isolation Rules In England

Boris Johnson has announced an end to all Covid-19 self-isolation rules in England could come into effect within weeks.

Johnson announced the move whilst facing Keir Starmer today (9 February) during Prime Minister’s Questions in Parliament.

The plans to end the mandatory self-isolation period for anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 will come ‘a full month earlier’ than planned, with the exact date to be confirmed in a statement to MPs on Monday 21 February.

Self-isolation laws were set to expire on 24 March, which suggests that the change could be brought forward a month and come into effect on the Wednesday or Thursday after the announcement to Parliament on 21 February.

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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’ll be able to end the last domestic restrictions, including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive, a full month early.”

Currently in England, as with the rest of the UK, anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 has a legal responsibility to isolate immediately.

In England, people can leave quarantine once they have provided two negative lateral flow tests at least 24 hours apart after five full days of isolation.

In Scotland and Wales, those who test positive must isolate for seven full days from when symptoms appear or a positive test is returned.

MPs will return on 21 February after a half-term recess, at which point Johnson said he aims to return to set out the government’s plan for ‘living with’ the virus.

Yesterday’s daily Covid-19 figures showed that 66,183 people tested positive for the virus, and 314 people died as a result of Covid-19.

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Johnson has spoken before about the possibility of ending nearly two years of mandatory isolation for those testing positive for the virus.

Last month he told Parliament: “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.

"The self-isolation regulations expire on 24th March, at which point I very much expect not to renew them.

"Indeed were the data to allow, I would like to seek a vote in this House to bring that date forwards."