UK unveils game plan for 'living with COVID'

Ahead of his speech, Johnson said yesterday on Twitter that the COVID-19 threat remains, but because of the country's efforts over the past 2 years, it can now transition from government regulations to personal responsibility. He hailed Britain's strong vaccine uptake, the arrival of new treatments, and the scientific understanding of what the virus can do. The United Kingdom is reporting declining cases, though the proportion of the more transmissible BA.2 Omicron subvariant viruses is increasing. About 82% of adults have received three vaccine doses, according to the Office for National Statistics. As of Feb 24, people won't legally be required to self-isolate after testing positive, but adults and children will be advised to do so. Free PCR and rapid tests will wind down on Apr 1, but a limited number will still be available for high-risk groups and nursing home staff. Contact tracing and financial support for low-income people infected with COVID-19 will also wind down. In an open letter to the country's chief medical advisor and its chief scientific adviser, who appeared with Johnson at today's briefing, a group of doctors and scientists aired concerns about the government's plans to end testing, surveillance surveys, and the legal requirement for isolation. 'We do not believe there is a solid scientific basis for the policy. It is almost certain to increase the circulation of the virus and remove the visibility of emerging variants of concern,' they wrote. Johnson said a community testing survey, a key part of surveillance, will continue at the Office for National Statistics, but it's not clear if will continue in its current form or be pared down, according to The Guardian.