The Government has announced the beginning of the end to all legal requirement and restrictions in England as part of its ‘living with Covid’ plan.

The key dates for changes outlined by the government are Thursday 24^th February, Thursday 24^th March and Friday 1^st April.

Changes from 24^th February

• The legal requirement to self-isolate after a positive Covid test will end – instead being replaced with guidance to stay at home
• The legal requirement for workers to inform their employer that they are required to self-isolate will end
• Contact tracing will end
• The £500 self-isolation support payment for people on low incomes will end

Changes from 24^th March

• Statutory sick pay (SSP) will revert to its pre-pandemic rules – with SSP payments no longer being payable from day one due to Covid-related illness, instead payable from day four
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will revert to its pre-pandemic rules

Changes from April 1^st

• Free lateral flow tests will end for the general public on April 1^st
• Free PCR tests will end for the general public on April 1^st
• The NHS Covid Pass will no longer be recommended to certain venues
• Employers will no longer have to explicitly consider Covid as a separate risk when working conducting health and safety risk assessments
• Government guidance to stay at home after a positive Covid test will end

Find out more about The Government’s Living with Covid plan and the end of legal restrictions here.