England will becomes the first developed country to declare victory over COVID-19

Thursday, February 10, 2022

England will become the first developed country in the world to declare victory over Covid-19. Boris Johnson announced yesterday that our fast vaccine rollout means we are on course to ditch the final curbs a month early — the last legal restrictions being lifted by February 24.

ABTA – The Travel Association says hundreds of thousands of people will be heading abroad this half term for winter sun and ski trips, as families look to make the most of UK’s relaxation of travel rules which come into force today (Friday 11 February)

The triumphant Prime Minister has told pals: “We got Covid done.” In a bonfire of domestic lockdown curbs, Brits will no longer be legally required to isolate for five days if they catch coronavirus.

This will free millions of kids to stay in school rather than be sent home repeatedly because of symptoms that are usually no more than a cold. Councils will also be stripped of emergency powers that lets them close businesses they deem a risk.

On the same day these last domestic laws are scrapped, No 10 also wants to tear up the final Covid border controls.

The hated passenger locator forms and rules forcing unvaccinated travellers to get two tests before being allowed into Britain will be binned, as long as scientists agree. The travel tests are already being scrapped for vaccinated travellers from tomorrow. While the daily Covid-19 dashboard, which for two years has illustrated the tragic death toll of the virus, may be replaced with weekly surveillance data.

Mr Johnson told delighted MPs in the Commons yesterday that provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions a full month early. His spokesman hailed the public for getting the nation through the toughest period in its history since the Second World War.

He said that this could represent an important step for this country as we move out of the pandemic.

It’s thanks to the British people, who stepped up when needed, both at the start of the vaccination programme and the booster programme at Christmas. A boon both for the public and also to our hard hit businesses, particularly in hospitality, enabling our economy to grow further, showing that the hard work has paid off.

The PM will bring forward his plan, Living with Covid-19, when Parliament returns back from half term holidays on February 21. Provided scientists give him the go-ahead, he plans to scrap all remaining domestic laws and Covid-19 border controls later that week on February 24.

The free lateral flow tests will continue for a while longer but they are expected to be stopped at the end of March, when current funding for them runs out. Since Covid crashed onto our shores two years ago, the country has faced its biggest collective challenge since the 1940s. Schools were shut, pubs were closed while families and friends kept apart for months.

Yesterday, politicians and business chiefs hailed the news as a landmark moment. But they warned that never again must Britain lock down. His spokesman hailed the public for getting the nation through the toughest period in its history since the Second World War.

He said that this would represent an important step for this country as we move out of the pandemic. It is a matter of thanks to the British people, who stepped up when needed, both at the start of the vaccination programme and the booster programme at Christmas.

A boon both for the public and also to our hard hit businesses, particularly in hospitality, enabling our economy to grow further, showing that the hard work has paid off.”

The PM will bring forward his plan, Living With Covid, when Parliament returns back from half term holidays on February 21. Provided scientists give him the go-ahead, he plans to scrap all remaining domestic laws and Covid border controls later that week on February 24.

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