On Monday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled the details of his “living with COVID” plan. The plan includes ending the legal necessity to self-isolate following a positive coronavirus test on Thursday. And reversing the rollback of free mass coronavirus screenings beginning in April.
The UK Prime Minister stated in a House of Commons announcement that all temporary laws enacted to combat the epidemic in March 2020 will expire next month as part of his aim to shift away from government mandate and toward personal responsibility.
He declared that the country’s health strategy would now focus on vaccines and therapeutics. Including accepting the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) recommendation to offer a fourth booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to all those aged 75 and older, as well as the most vulnerable groups, in the coming months.
Let’s discuss what are the covid plans in different states of the UK more precisely.
What is the covid plan for England?
From the 21st of February:
-In most educational and child care contexts, no longer required for workers and students to test twice weekly.
From the 24th of February:
-People who test positive for Covid will no longer be legally forced to self-isolate. However, for those who test positive, staying at home and avoiding contact with others for at least five days is what they still need to do.
-Low-income people will no longer be eligible for self-isolation support payments of £500.
-If a worker needs to self-isolate, they will no longer have to inform their employer.
From April 1st:
-For most people, Covid testing will no longer be free.
-Except for international travel, Covid passports will no longer be recommended.
-No requirement for employers to include Covid in their risk assessments for health and safety.
Other measures, such as venues’ voluntary use of COVID vaccine certification and workers and kids in most school and childcare settings being required to test twice a week, will be phased out starting April 1st. The government can ease limitations due to high levels of immunity and mortality that are lower than predicted for this time of year, according to Johnson.
Boris Johnson’s plan to eliminate all legal constraints is exclusively for England. Other portions of the UK are still subject to restrictions.
Rules In Scotland
The following are the remaining restrictions:
-Shops and enterprises must take steps to prevent Covid from spreading.
-Requirement of facial coverings at public transportation and in most indoor locations, such as shops and secondary schools.
-For places such as nightclubs, a Covid certification program is in effect, which requires persons to show documentation of their vaccination status or a recent negative test.
-In healthcare facilities such as hospitals, doctors’ offices, and dentists, a 2-meter separation requirement still applies.
To be considered completely vaccinated, anyone who had their second dosage more than four months ago must also have received a booster. Although the government wants some employees to continue working remotely, work from home advice has come to an end.
Covid Rules In Wales
Covid restrictions are being gradually eased, however, some controls remain in place:
-Face coverings are required in schools, public transportation, stores, and hospitals.
-Students in secondary school are required to test for Covid three times per week.
Northern Ireland Covid Rules
-Covid certifications in nightclubs. Facial coverings that must be worn. Track and trace procedures and a limit of 30 persons in private houses are no longer legal restrictions.
Since the UK’s COVID vaccine deployment began in December 2020, official data shows that 91 percent of people aged 12 and up have received a first dose of the vaccine, 85 percent a second dose, and 66 percent a booster or third dose.