England Calls for an End, to All Government-Mandated, COVID Restrictions.
NBC reports that on February 24, England lifted all government-mandated COVID-19 restrictions.
Even the legal requirement for anyone who
tests positive to isolate at their home has been lifted. .
According to officials, those who test positive will still be advised to stay home for at least five days, but they will no longer be legally required to do so. .
The decision also means that those with lower incomes will no longer receive financial support to compensate for a loss of wages due to isolation. .
NBC reports that routine contact tracing
of infected individuals has also been halted. .
On February 21, British Prime Minister
Boris Johnson laid out the Conservative
government's plan for "living with COVID" long term. .
This plan also reportedly includes scaling back free universal COVID-19 testing beginning on April 1. .
NBC reports that in January, most coronavirus restrictions were already lifted in England. .
Similarly, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have also chosen to lift restrictions in recent weeks.
Other European countries, like Denmark and Sweden, have ended all COVID restrictions as well. .
NBC reports that critics, including the British
Medical Association, have warned that it is too soon
to end restrictions, particularly isolation laws. .
The strategy, according to the British Medical Association, fails to protect vulnerable people at the highest risk of serious harm from COVID-19.