UK Living with Covid plan
What is the England’s ‘Living with Covid’ plan and what are the rules in the rest of the UK?
The prime minister has announced an end to all remaining Covid restrictions in England, including the legal requirement to self-isolate. In its place, the government has put forward a “Living with Covid” plan.
The changes will not automatically apply across the rest of the UK unless the other nations choose to adopt them.
What is the plan for England?
From 21 February:
staff and students in most education and childcare settings without symptoms no longer have to test twice weekly from 24 February:
> people with Covid will no longer be legally required to self-isolate
> guidance will remain in place for those who test positive to stay at home and avoid contact with others for at least five full days
> self-isolation support payments of £500 for those on low incomes will no longer be available
> routine contact tracing will end – people in contact with someone with Covid will no longer be advised to self-isolate or take daily tests
> workers will no longer be required to tell their employer if they need to self-isolate
From 1 April:
> Covid tests will no longer be free for most people
> the use of Covid passports will no longer be recommended, except for international travel
> employers will no longer have to consider Covid as a separate risk when working out how to keep employees safe
> Speaking alongside the prime minister, the chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance warned that Covid would continue to evolve over the next few years. He said that further variants of > > > Covid were expected – and that they could be more severe than those previously seen.
Therefore, although most of the free testing system is being dismantled in England, the government insists that the UK will continue to do detailed checks and surveillance to look for resurgences of Covid and any concerning new variants which may emerge.
It says it will be also possible to scale up testing and tracing operations again if needed.
What are the rules in Scotland?
Later on Tuesday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will set out Scotland’s plans for managing Covid in the future.
The current restrictions include:
> shops and businesses need to take measures to limit the spread of Covid
> face coverings are compulsory on public transport and most indoor spaces, including shops and secondary schools
> a Covid certification scheme is in place for venues including nightclubs, meaning people must provide proof of their vaccination status or a recent negative test
> a 2m distancing rule remains in healthcare settings such as hospitals, doctors’ surgeries and dentists
> anyone who had their second dose more than four months ago must also have received a booster to be considered fully vaccinated.
Work from home advice has ended, although the government wants some staff to continue working remotely.
What are the rules in Wales?
A gradual easing of Covid restrictions is under way but some measures remain in place:
compulsory face coverings in schools, on public transport, and in shops and hospitals
secondary school pupils are asked to test for Covid three times a week
What rules have been lifted in Northern Ireland?
Covid certificates in nightclubs, mandatory face coverings, track and trace requirements and the cap on 30 people in private homes are no longer legal requirements.
Legal measures have been replaced by guidance, such as recommending face masks are still worn in certain public settings.