Sajid Javid said the legal requirement for people with covid to self-isolate could be downgraded to "guidance and advice".
Speaking at a press conference this evening (Wednesday, January 19) the health secretary said people must eventually learn to live with the virus as is already the case with flu.
The health secretary said: "We shouldn't see this as the finish line - we cannot eradicate this virus and its future variants. We must learn to live with covid in the same way we've learnt to live with flu."
READ MORE: People who test positive for Covid in England will no longer have to stay home
He confirmed key changes as England reverts from Plan B back to Plan A, including the lifting of work from home guidance, and (from next Thursday) the lifting of face mask rules, and the end of vaccination requirements or proof of negative tests for large events.
Mr Javid added: "As well as these changes, we're also exploring where else we can ease restrictions.
"We're looking to replace legal requirements on self-isolation with guidance and advice, and in the coming days, I'll be setting out our plans to further ease restrictions on visits to care homes."
The health secretary was asked by a member of the press what the public health justification for this was, and if the Government would introduce this even if it was against experts' guidance.
Mr Javid stressed that the self-isolation requirement is still in place currently, but that its removal would be considered in future.
He added: "There's no decision at this point - it's clear there's still a high rate of prevalence, around one in 20...it's important currently to keep those rules in place."
However, he continued: "It's reasonable to think [like with flu] that we will eventually have to find a way to live with covid in a similar fashion."
He also suggested that any removal of the self-isolation requirement would not be for some time yet.
'I will be back in the spring'
He said: "I will come back in the spring and set out how we can learn to live with covid."
Earlier Boris Johnson confirmed the intention to end the legal requirement to self-isolate in the coming weeks.
He told MPs: “As we return to Plan A, the House will know that some measures still remain, including those on self-isolation.
“In particular, it is still a legal requirement for those who have tested positive for Covid to self-isolate. On Monday we reduced the isolation period to five full days with two negative tests, and 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. Indeed, were the data to allow, I’d like to seek a vote in this House to bring that date forward.”
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