People in England who test positive for COVID are no longer legally required to self-isolate.
From today, all remaining restrictions have been replaced by the government’s “living with COVID plan”.
This comes just days after guidance for staff and students in most education and childcare settings to undertake twice weekly asymptomatic testing was scrapped.
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COVID rule changes – what you need to know
What changes from 24 February?
- People who test positive for COVID will no longer be bound by law to self-isolate
- Adults and children who have the virus will be advised to self-isolate – but this won’t be a legal requirement
- Vaccinated contacts of people who have tested positive will no longer be asked to do daily lateral flow tests for seven days
- Contact tracing will end
- Support payments for people who would have previously self-isolated with COVID will end
- Businesses will no longer be legally required to tell staff to self-isolate if they have COVID
Read more: What will ‘living with COVID’ mean now coronavirus restrictions have ended in England?
The prime minister said on lifting the restrictions: “Because of the efforts we have made as a country over the past two years, we can now deal with it in a very different way, moving from government restrictions to personal responsibility, so we protect ourselves without losing our abilities and maintaining our contingent capabilities so we can respond rapidly to any new variant.”
On removing self-isolation support payments, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “These are decisions which will hit the lowest paid and the most insecure workers the hardest.”
Meanwhile, Transport for London (TfL) has announced passengers will no longer have to wear face coverings.
The Government scrapped the requirement for people in England to wear face coverings on public transport on 27 January 27 but TfL kept the rule on its services.
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Scotland to lift COVID restrictions
What about the devolved nations?
Scotland’s legal COVID-19 restrictions, including the wearing of face coverings, will end on 21 March.
In Wales from 28 February people will no longer need to wear face coverings in all indoor places – including schools.
However, masks will still be required in shops, health and care facilities and public transport. If cases continue to fall, it is hoped all mask rules will be lifted by the end of March.
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Northern Ireland’s health minister revoked all remaining restrictions on 15 February.
This means that people will not be punished for not following restrictions, though they are still encouraged to do so.
Individual business can also still ask customers to follow rules.
https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-all-remaining-coronavirus-restrictions-lifted-in-england-12549571
