“Living with Covid” plan – changes from today

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Earlier this week the government annouced it’s ‘Living with Covid’ plan meaning that almost all of the covid rules have now been relaxed.

From today it will no longer be a legal requirement to self isolate if you test positive for Covid 19, however the guidance is still to stay at home and avoid contact with others to prevent spreading the virus.

Covid is still around and while the legal restrictions are no longer in place the advice, from government and, emphatically, from health experts is to continue to take precautions to keep yourself and others safe

  • Get vaccinated
  • Let fresh air in if meeting indoors, or meet outside
  • Consider wearing a face covering in crowded, enclosed spaces
  • Stay at home if you are unwell or if you test positive for Covid
HM Government logo in top left. Image divided into six parts with text and icons. How you can continue to keep yourself and your loved ones safe Syringe icon. Vaccines. Get vaccinated to reduce your risk of catching Covid-19 and becoming seriously ill, and to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others. Window and air icon. Fresh air. Letting fresh air in if meeting indoors, or meeting outside to disperse Covid-19 particles and reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Face mask icon. Face covering. Consider wearing a face covering in crowded, enclosed spaces. Home icon. Stay at home if unwell. Try to start at home if you are unwell. Hand washing icon. Wash your hands regularly to limit the spread of Covid-19

From 1st April free lateral flow tests will no longer be available. In the meantime you can still get free lateral flow tests online at https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests for home delivery (note you can now only order once every 3 days) or https://test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/collect-lateral-flow-kits to collect from a pharmacy. You can also call 119 to get lateral flow tests.

Also from 1st April, not everyone will be able to book a PCR test if they have symptoms. Tests will still be available for some vulnerable groups, likely to include over 80s and people who are immunosuppressed. The exact list is still being drawn up.