No more quarantine or isolation for Covid positives. In the UK it also falls the latest anti-contagion restriction. The announcement will come in the evening from Prime Minister Boris Johnson through a long-awaited speech to the nation which will de facto mark the end of the Covid era. From Thursday 24 February, after two years of emergency, we will return to pre-pandemic normality. It is no coincidence that the English newspapers are already talking about Freedom Day, the second "day of freedom" after the one already experienced on 20 July 2021, when the Prime Minister himself announced the end of the obligation to wear a mask (even indoors) and smart working and the abolition of social distancing rules, except then having to go back due to the resurgence of infections.
Will this time be different? There are many who hope so by virtue of success of the vaccination campaign. In the United Kingdom, in fact, over 91% of the population received at least one dose of the anti-Covid vaccine, 85 who completed the primary vaccination course and 80% did the third dose. According to some studies, between vaccines and infections, 98,2% of citizens have already developed antibodies against the disease.
According to forecasts, after the cancellation of the obligation to wear masks indoors and the stop to the green pass which came into force at the end of January, Johnson will communicate the new decisions to the deputies of the House of Commons in the evening. Then he will speak to the nation. In addition to end of quarantine for positives, who in all likelihood will therefore be able to go around and work wearing a mask, the Downing Street plan will establish some innovations also for anti-Covid test. Two expected changes: goodbye to free swabs, until now guaranteed to the entire population, and no tests for asymptomatic people.
However, the anticipations of the newfound normality in the United Kingdom were not greeted only with applause. The Labor Party, also supported by several scientists, has already launched an attack, speaking of "political announcement" dictated only by the desire to regain support after the "partygate", the scandal of the parties in lockdown in Downing Street which seriously risked blowing up Johnson's premiership.
The announcement, among other things, will arrive 24 hours after the news relating to the positivity of Queen Elizabeth II. It is no coincidence that Buckingham Palace has already made it known that the anti-Covid protocols will remain in place at the Palace.
