The Government is expected to announce the end of most Covid-19 rules later today.
Senior NHS leaders have warned that any move to end the remaining Covid-19 restrictions should be done with caution and using an “evidence-led approach”.
The Government is expected to announce the end of most Covid-19 rules later today, which could mean an end to the legal requirement to self-isolate and the suspension of routine free lateral flow testing.
NHS leaders have warned that while hospital admissions and deaths linked to the virus continue to fall, leaders should follow a cautious and evidence-based approach to the reaction of rules.
However, the NHS Confederation has revealed that three-quarters of NHS leaders disagree with changing the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive result to being advisory only.
Nearly eight in 10 also want the public to continue to have free access to Covid-19 tests, with nine in 10 wanting free access for key workers to continue.
No magic wand.
Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “Hospital admissions and deaths linked to coronavirus continue to fall nationally and this is allowing the NHS to bring back many routine services that it was asked to deprioritise during the peaks of the pandemic, including some non-urgent elective procedures. With the success of the vaccine and new Covid treatments, this offers real hope as we learn to live with the virus.
“But the Government cannot wave a magic wand and pretend the threat has disappeared entirely. So much is uncertain still, including our long-term immunity and the emergence of future strains, which requires a solid testing infrastructure and clear guidance around self-isolation to remain in place.
“A lot is at stake for the NHS’s recovery ambitions if the Government is too gung-ho in its plans for exiting the pandemic, which is why health leaders are calling for a cautious and evidence led approach. This must not be driven by political expediency.”
The Prime Minister is set to hold a press conference at 7pm today (21 February 2022).
