Covid-19: UK ends all health restrictions
Despite criticism, the British Prime Minister announced the lifting of the last anti-Covid restrictions on Monday February 21, 2022. REUTERS - POOL
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Boris Johnson announced on Monday the end of all legal restrictions.
From Thursday, there is no longer any need to isolate yourself in the event of a positive test.
The tests will no longer be accessible free of charge from April.
Freedom regained or irresponsible emancipation?
The press is divided.
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With our correspondent in London,
Émeline Vin
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday February 21 the end of mandatory isolation for positive coronavirus cases from Thursday in England.
"
The restrictions have a significant cost to our economy, our society, our mental well-being and our children's opportunities, and we must not pay that price any longer
," the Conservative leader told parliament, quoting the success of the vaccination campaign, the sharp drop in hospitalizations and the ability to “
react quickly in the event of the emergence of a new variant
”.
More than 71% of adults have received three doses of a Covid vaccine in England, including 93% of those over 70, he pointed out.
►Also read: United Kingdom: Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for Covid-19
“
Boris breaks his chains
”, headlines the
Daily Mail
, ending isolation after a positive test.
However, it will remain recommended until April 1 to stay at home.
The idea of regained freedom also appears on the front page of the
Daily Express
, another tabloid, which quotes the Prime Minister: “
Let's regain our confidence.
The measure is however only supported by 25% of the British, according to a YouGov poll, spotted by the newspaper iNews.
The end of test support
A freedom and confidence that have a cost: that of antigenic tests.
From April, it will be necessary to pay between 2 and 5 pounds, around six euros, to be tested.
It is this stoppage of public support that is displayed on most of the headlines, the
Mirror
even speaks of a "
slap
".
The economic daily
Financial Times
recounts the refusal of the Minister of the Economy to continue to pay 2.5 billion euros per month to finance the tests, despite the requests of the Minister of Health.
As 'BoJo' calls on Britons to treat Covid like 'the
flu
' and to show personal responsibility, the free daily
Metro
summarizes the plan to live with the virus for its readers: '
And now it's you who manage.
»
As soon as the peak of the Omicron wave passed in January, the leader had already lifted most of the restrictions in force in England, such
as the indoor mask and the sanitary pass
for discos or mass events.
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