there is much higher immunity thanks to previous infections and vaccination. covid case rates relative to the population have been falling in the uk. they are lower than, for example, germany and italy, but above countries like the united states and canada. we still have high levels of infection in the community, but far lower levels of admissions to hospital and mortality is low. so i think you can t do it indefinitely. you have to lift restrictions at some point. but what we need do is recognise that people s behaviour this is not a free ticketjust to go back and not worry about the virus at all. pcr testing sites will be wound down in england and free lateral flow tests cut back. that is proving more contentious. zoe is a secondary school teacher. she thinks the relaxation of isolation rules may be good for her children and other pupils without symptoms, but not necessarily everyone. for the sake of getting people back to work, etc, i think it is very good, but we do have vulnerab
they say bringing it to an end is premature and reckless. they had lobbied, alongside scotland and northern ireland, to keep a testing structure in place until at least the end ofjune. in northern ireland, the remaining covid restrictions, like face maskings and vaccine - passports, were dropped from being legal requirement last week- while self isolation rules remain. but ending covid restrictions here wasn t straightforward. j because of the collapse in the power sharing i executive at stormont, - there is no first and deputy first ministers here to. sign off on big decisions. instead, northern ireland s health minister had to get the backing. of individual ministers instead. and robin swann has also signed that letter from the devolved nations, - setting out their concerns as england plans- to end isolation rules. it s calling urgently for more - information on the scale of services that will remain to ensure all - four nations stay prepared for any future waves of the virus. emma
comfortable if the compulsory isolation stayed? isolation stayed? just until the spring- isolation stayed? just until the spring. science - isolation stayed? just until. the spring. science suggests cases falling. the spring. science suggests cases falling. covid - the spring. science suggests cases falling. covid case - the spring. science suggests. cases falling. covid case rates relative to the population have been falling in the uk, lower than germany and italy for example, but above the united states and canada. states and canada. very clear this pandemic states and canada. very clear this pandemic is states and canada. very clear this pandemic is not - states and canada. very clear this pandemic is not over. l this pandemic is not over. while noting omicron was less severe than expected, government advisers warned that future variants could be worse. the one thing the virus has taught you is not to be cocky, so we need to monitor carefully and be prepared to react. pill
they will be eligible for a fourth vaccine dose. there is little disagreement over the need to open up at some stage and end legal restrictions, but it s a question of timing. jonathan is a gp at a large practice in eastbourne. there are high virus case rates in the area and he is anxious what about the ending of isolation rules might mean for patients. if it were to carry on till easter, maybe that would be a bit better. we have been trying hard to keep people out of the building when they are carrying an infection. they say there are no rules about isolation, they ll want to come and see us, which will make life more difficult. his concerns are echoed by linda. there is still a lot of covid about. i ve got three members of my family that have got it. would you feel more comfortable if this compulsory isolation stayed for the time being? just till the spring. so what does the science suggest? covid hospital admissions have been falling and new anti viral drugs have come on stream.
isolation rules might mean for patients. it isolation rules might mean for atients. ., , ., ., patients. if it were to carry on to easter that patients. if it were to carry on to easter that would patients. if it were to carry on to easter that would be patients. if it were to carry on to easter that would be better. - patients. if it were to carry on to easter that would be better. we | patients. if it were to carry on to - easter that would be better. we have ea5ter that would be better. we have been trying hard to keep people out of the building when they are carrying infection, they say there is no rules about isolation, they want to come and see us which will make life more difficult. his concerns make life more difficult. his concerns are make life more difficult. his concerns are echoed by linda. make life more difficult. his - concerns are echoed by linda. there is still a lot concerns are echoed by linda. there is still a lot of concerns are echoed by linda. there