Boris Johnson announcement dwell: PM makes announcement after ending Covid isolation and free exams in England

The PM is now answering questions from reporters, together with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg and Sky’s Beth Rigby.

Over to chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance now, who warns the pandemic shouldn’t be over and says “the virus has obtained a variety of room to evolve”.

It’ll proceed to take action at a quick tempo “most likely for the subsequent couple of years”, he says, including there isn’t any assure that the subsequent variant might be of the identical decreased severity as Omicron.

Insisting there’s nonetheless a necessity for warning, he quotes an American colleague. “You possibly can have fun when the solar’s shining – however take your umbrella with you,” he tells reporters.

Time for the info from Prof Chris Whitty, who begins by saying the variety of folks in hospital with Covid within the UK is “nonetheless important” and cites ongoing stress on hospitals.

Nevertheless, he says the charges “have been taking place steadily now for some weeks”.

Prof Whitty additionally says the Omicron wave remains to be excessive however appears to condone the change in guidelines.

He says this can be a regular transfer over a time period because the charges are taking place. “This isn’t a sudden the whole lot stops,” he tells the press convention.

Johnson says “immediately shouldn’t be the day we will declare victory over Covid”, acknowledging the virus is “not going away” but.

However, he insists the efforts of healthcare staff and the general public over the past two years “allow us to guard ourselves while restoring our liberties in full”.

“I do consider this can be a second of pleasure for our nation and a supply of hope for all that we will obtain within the years to return,” he provides earlier than handing over to Chris Whitty.

Whereas optimistic concerning the present state of affairs in England, the PM says it’s vital to “be clear that the pandemic shouldn’t be over”.

There could also be “important resurgences,” he provides.

“Our scientists are sure that there might be new variants and it is rather attainable that these might be worse than Omicron,” he says.

However the authorities will proceed to guard most weak with vaccinations and coverings, he says, referencing plans for a brand new spring booster dose for over-75s and probably the most weak teams.

As outlined within the Commons, he says the federal government is working with retailers to make sure folks will all the time have the ability to purchase a take a look at, even after mass free testing ends in England in April.

As introduced within the Commons earlier, Johnson confirms that from Thursday the authorized requirement to self-isolate if you happen to take a look at optimistic for Covid will finish in England.

“Till April we’ll nonetheless advise you to remain at dwelling if you happen to take a look at optimistic. However after that, we’ll encourage folks with Covid signs to train private duty simply as we encourage individuals who could have flu to be thoughtful in direction of others,” he tells the Downing Avenue press convention.

Once more repeating modifications introduced earlier, he says self-isolation funds may even finish from this date however statutory sick pay modifications will stay for an extra month.

He additionally confirms the tip to free testing from 1 April.

Boris Johnson begins by saying England has “emerged from the tooth of the pandemic”.

He says that from the outset, “we have been clear that we should chart a course again to normality” as rapidly as attainable. That’s now attainable, he provides, because of the vaccine programme, the “sensible scientists”, the NHS, and the general public coming ahead to get jabbed.

Whereas the pandemic shouldn’t be over “we’ve got handed the height of the Omicron wave,” Johnson says.

Boris Johnson is up on the podium in Downing Avenue, setting out his residing with Covid plan.

He’s joined by Prof Chris Whitty, Englad’s chief medical officer, and Sir Patrick Vallance, the federal government’s chief scientific adviser.

Keep turned for what the PM says.