England Calls for an End, to All Government-Mandated, COVID Restrictions.<br />NBC reports that on February 24, England lifted all government-mandated COVID-19 restrictions.<br />Even the legal requirement for anyone who <br />tests positive to isolate at their home has been lifted. .<br />According to officials, those who test positive will still be advised to stay home for at least five days, but they will no longer be legally required to do so. .<br />The decision also means that those with lower incomes will no longer receive financial support to compensate for a loss of wages due to isolation. .<br />NBC reports that routine contact tracing <br />of infected individuals has also been halted. .<br />On February 21, British Prime Minister <br />Boris Johnson laid out the Conservative <br />government's plan for "living with COVID" long term. .<br />This plan also reportedly includes scaling back free universal COVID-19 testing beginning on April 1. .<br />NBC reports that in January, most coronavirus restrictions were already lifted in England. .<br />Similarly, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have also chosen to lift restrictions in recent weeks.<br />Other European countries, like Denmark and Sweden, have ended all COVID restrictions as well. .<br />NBC reports that critics, including the British <br />Medical Association, have warned that it is too soon <br />to end restrictions, particularly isolation laws. .<br />The strategy, according to the British Medical Association, fails to protect vulnerable people at the highest risk of serious harm from COVID-19.
