UK reportedly moving to end all pandemic restrictions
LONDON (TND) — United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reportedly planning to scrap all COVID-19 pandemic restrictions by the beginning of March.
Citing a "senior government source" from the U.K., The Daily Mail says ministers are "seriously considering" getting rid of all legal restrictions put in place due to the pandemic and instead moving forward to a "guidance-based" system.
The news comes on the 13th day in a row daily COVID-19 cases in the U.K. have dropped. The decline reportedly helped Johnson and ministers make their decision.
The Daily Mail says its source claims even the "most basic" rules would end, such as self-quarantining of positive cases and compliance with the government's "Test and Trace" program.
Emergency COVID laws which were launched at the beginning of the pandemic were already set to expire in March 2022, but the omicron virus and resurging spike of COVID cases could have possibly seen those laws renewed or extended.
Johnson, now said to be more confident the U.K. can live with the virus due to recent downward trends, will finalize plans to let those COVID laws expire in March, according to the Guardian.
Other restrictions will reportedly be lifted as soon as next week.
On Jan. 24, restrictions on bars and restaurants that would only allow seated customers to be served will be lifted, The Daily Mail reports. Social distancing will also be lifted on the same day and nightclubs will once again be allowed to operate.
Limitations on attendance to indoor events will reportedly be lifted as well on Jan. 24. Masks will still be required on public transport and indoors, however, according to U.K. government guidance, until the lifting of all restrictions in March.
