Plan for “Living with Covid”
Johnson wants to overturn isolation if test positive
2/9/2022 3:07 p.m
The British prime minister, who has come under pressure, can no longer announce many easing because most of the corona rules in England have already been abolished. Now Johnson has one last ace up his sleeve: Even the obligation to isolate after a positive test should fall in February.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to abolish the obligation to self-isolate in the event of a positive corona test. Johnson announced a plan for “living with Covid” in Parliament in London. “Provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, I expect we can end the latest domestic restrictions – including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive – a full month early,” Johnson said. The government has repeatedly made it clear that it wants to put the pandemic situation behind it. The current Corona regulation expires on March 24th. Johnson’s move suggests the remaining rule could end as early as February 23.
He intends to present his plans on February 21, after the forthcoming break in the meeting for the winter holidays. According to political commentators, the prime minister’s announcement is intended to win over the hardliners in his Conservative Party. Johnson is under intense pressure within the party for his handling of the “Partygate” affair. Johnson had previously lifted almost all corona rules in the largest part of England. The obligation to take a corona test no later than the second day after entry ends this Friday. Mask and distance rules had already been ended.
Positive test: Secretary of State continues meeting
Meanwhile, a member of the government’s careless handling of an infection in London was criticized. Despite a positive corona test, British Secretary of State for Health Gillian Keegan continued an appointment. The conservative politician apologized for her “misjudgment”. “I should have ended the meeting immediately,” Keegan tweeted. A ministry spokesman said Department Chief Sajid Javid accepted the apology and continued to support Keegan.
In the past, several British politicians and scientists had to resign from their posts for violating corona rules. Keegan tweeted that she was in the middle of meeting three fathers who were reporting their daughters’ deaths when she received the positive test result. “I informed them of the result and took further precautions, but with their consent I stayed for a short time to hear their stories,” wrote the politician. The instruction of the NHS health service currently stipulates that people must isolate themselves immediately after a positive test result.