Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that Plan B rules are being scrapped, with Plan A taking over.
The Covid-19 rule changes come as the UK’s cases plummet, dropping by 38% in just one week.
Mr Johnson also suggested that self-isolation rules could be laid to rest in just a matter of months.
Here is all you need to know about the end of quarantine.
When could self-isolation rules end?
Boris Johnson said that, if the data allows, self-isolation rules could be scrapped as early as March 24, 2022.
On Wednesday, Mr Johnson told Parliament: ‘There will soon come a time when we can remove the legal requirement to self-isolate altogether, just as we don’t place legal obligations on people to isolate if they have flu.
‘As Covid becomes endemic, we will need to replace legal requirements with advice and guidance, urging people with the virus to be careful and considerate of others.
‘The self-isolation regulations expire on March 24, at which point I very much expect not to renew them.’
If this is the case, that means that the very last day of isolation rules will be March 23 – exactly two years to the day that the first UK lockdown was announced.
He added that, if coronavirus cases continue to drop, he may very well ‘bring that date forward’.
However, Mr Johnson also stressed that isolation rules are still currently in place.
He explained: ‘In particular, it is still a legal requirement for those who have tested positive for Covid to self-isolate.’
England’s self-isolation rules changed recently, slashing the quarantine period from seven to five days.
When do the new rule changes come in?
Face masks will no longer be required in secondary school classrooms from Thursday.
From January 27, facemasks will also not be mandatory on public transport or in shops, Covid-19 vaccine passes will be scrapped, and care home visitation rules will be eased.
However, it is worth noting that some restrictions will remain in place past this date, including rules on self-isolation.
They are due to expire on March 24 – but may be extended if Covid-19 cases climb again.
It is worth noting that the rule changes only apply to England – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own Covid-19 restrictions in place.
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