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“Respect others’ choices on COVID” asks Cumbria’s Director of Public Health as COVID rules end

Cumbria’s Director of Public Health, Colin Cox, has urged Cumbrians to respect the choices of others after all remaining legal measures to tackle COVID-19 were removed.

The Government announced earlier this week that legal requirements, such as the need to self-isolate following a positive COVID test, will cease to exist from today (Thursday 24 February). 

Mr Cox said: “Although all legal restrictions to tackle COVID-19 have been removed, public health advice remains the same.

“If you do test positive for COVID-19, it’s still advised that you stay at home and avoid contact with others for at least 5 days and then continue to do so until you receive 2 negative tests on consecutive days.

“The most important thing now is to consider the people around us. Consider how others might feel or be affected by COVID-19 and respect their choices.

“If somebody wants to wear a face mask in public spaces to protect themselves and others, everyone should respect that choice. If somebody wants to self-isolate to avoid spreading the virus to their colleagues or the people around them, they should be supported to do so whenever possible.

“We’re moving into a new phase of the pandemic, this is true, but we all know what we need to do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 - we’ve been doing it for two years now. So, let’s move into this next phase sensibly and respectfully and support each other to remain safe from COVID-19.”

The main changes to the COVID-19 rules from today are:

• The legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test has been removed. Adults and children who test positive will continue to be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least 5 full days and then continue to follow the guidance until they have received 2 negative test results on consecutive days.
• Fully vaccinated close contacts and those aged under 18 will no longer be asked to test daily for 7 days, and the legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate has been removed.
• Self-isolation support payments, national funding for practical support and the medicine delivery service will no longer be available.
• Routine contact tracing will end. Contacts will no longer be required to self-isolate or advised to take daily tests.
• The legal obligation for individuals to tell their employers when they are required to self-isolate will end.

To read the government’s “Living with COVID-19” plan in full, visit the government website.

The latest updates to COVID-19 guidance can be found at GOV.uk/coronavirus.

For the latest COVID-19 Situation Report for Cumbria, visit cumbria.gov.uk/stopthespread.