The End of Covid Rules

The government has announced the phased end of all Covid restrictions in England. From Thursday 24 February people who test positive for Covid will no longer be legally required to self-isolate.

Along with people who believe they may have Covid, they will be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with others for at least five full days. They will be advised to take a lateral flow test on the fifth and sixth day of the illness, and if both are negative, and if they have no temperature, they can resume normal life.

Routine contact tracing will end, so close contacts will no longer be legally required to stay at home or take a test daily for seven days.

The £500 self-isolation support payment for people on low incomes who test positive for Covid will no longer be available. Covid provisions for increased statutory sick pay will apply for a further month.

From 1 April:

Free mass symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public will end, and will instead be targeted towards the most vulnerable.

People with Covid symptoms will be asked to exercise personal responsibility when deciding whether to stay at home – until then they are still advised to do so.

Current government guidance on Covid passports will end and it will no longer recommend venues use the NHS Covid pass.

For clinically vulnerable people the decision to end restrictions could mean they may feel less confident about leaving their homes. It’s therefore advisable for family and friends of clinically vulnerable people to continue to take care and to test before they visit or meet up.