Johnson says it’s time to end ‘Covid rules’

Bloomberg

Prime Minister Boris Johnson reiterated his intention to end the UK’s remaining Covid-19 restrictions, saying he would lay out a plan this week for “living with Covid.”
Some opposition politicians and public health experts questioned the decision at a time the UK continues to see tens of thousands of Covid-19 cases a day. Johnson’s comments also came hours before Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s 95-year-old monarch, has tested positive for Covid-19.
“We’ve reached a stage where you can shift the balance away from state mandation, away from banning certain courses
of action,” Johnson said in a BBC interview.
The government can also no longer afford to spend about 2 billion pounds ($2.7 billion) a month on its free testing program, he said.
The prime minister is expected to confirm this week that “all regulations that restrict public freedoms will be repealed,” according to a statement from his office.
Johnson earlier this month said he plans to end the legal requirement for people in England to self-isolate if they test positive.
The move “seems to be a political announcement, almost pretending that Covid no longer exists,” Chaand Nagpaul, council chair of the British Medical Association, told the BBC.
Wes Streeting, the Labour Party’s shadow health secretary, cautioned that Johnson was moving too soon and said it was the wrong time to scrap free tests, as planned.
“I don’t think it’s right that we should effectively declare victory before the war is won,” Streeting said on the BBC. “What’s the scientific basis for making this decision?”
Johnson has been under pressure to end restrictions from fellow members of his Tory party. At the same time, he faces widespread criticism for his involvement in allegedly rule-breaking parties in Downing Street during the pandemic.
But one Conservative cabinet minister said it was the right time to dial back, even though positive tests are still high.