UK Will No Longer Require Citizens to Self-Isolate If They Have COVID-19

The British government has announced that people with COVID-19 will no longer be legally required to self-isolate in England beginning next week, which is part of its long-term plan for “living with COVID.”

The government has also decided to scale back on COVID testing.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a statement saying that ending all of the legal restrictions that were put in place to curb the spread of the virus will allow people in the U.K. to “protect ourselves without restricting our freedoms.”

He is expected to lay out more details of the plan on Monday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

“I’m not saying that we should throw caution to the winds, but now is the moment for everybody to get their confidence back,” Johnson told the BBC during an interview on Sunday.

“We’ve reached a stage where we think you can shift the balance away from state mandation, away from banning certain courses of action, compelling certain courses of action, in favor of encouraging personal responsibility.”

Some of the government’s scientific advisers have voiced their concerns on what they say is a risky move that could cause a surge in infections, as well as weaken the country’s defenses against virulent future strains.

Wes Streeting, who is a health spokesman for the main opposition Labour Party, called out  Johnson for “declaring victory before the war is over.”

On Sunday, Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for the virus, which indicates we have not reached the finish line against the fight yet. Buckingham Palace informed that the 95-year-old monarch was experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms.

The legal requirement to isolate for at least five days after someone tests positive for COVID-19 will now be replaced with advisory measures. The coronavirus will be treated more like the flu.

The new plan foresees vaccines and treatments to help keep the virus in check, however, the government said it will “surveillance systems and contingency measures will be retained” if needed.

“COVID will not suddenly disappear, and we need to learn to live with this virus and continue to protect ourselves without restricting our freedoms,” Johnson said.