Covid latest news today: Boris Johnson ends isolation for positive cases and goes ahead with scrapping free tests

The prime minister says Covid restrictions put “a heavy toll” on our economy, society and mental wellbeing.

“We do not need to pay that cost any longer,” he tells MPs.

With the population protected by vaccines and the capabilities to respond rapidly to a resurgence or new variants, Johnson says it’s “time we got our confidence back”.

We don’t need laws to “compel people to be considerate to others” and can instead rely on their “sense of responsibility”, he says.

Meanwhile, the government has just published Johnson’s Living with Covid plan in full – you can read it here.

Free Covid testing will end for the general public in England from 1 April, Boris Johnson announces.

However, he says the government will continue to provide free tests for symptomatic people for the oldest age groups and those who are most vulnerable.

Johnson adds the government will work with retailers to ensure everyone who wants a test can buy one.

Adam Forrest has more on the PM’s plan:

The PM says levels of immunity are high and deaths are low – this is why the restrictions can be lifted now, he says.

From Thursday, the legal requirement to self-isolate after a positive Covid test will be removed in England, Boris Johnson tells MPs.

Cheers and calls of “hear hear” can be heard from the Conservative benches.

Self-isolation payments will also end from this date, he says.

Boris Johnson opens his statement by sending his best wishes to the Queen for a “full and swift recovery” from Covid.

The monarch was confirmed to have tested positive for the virus on Sunday.

He adds that the country is ready to move to a new stage of its movement out of coronavirus restrictions.

Boris Johnson has taken to the despatch box, where he is setting out his plans for “living with Covid” to MPs.

We’ll bring you all the latest updates and analysis here.

Before the PM’s Commons speech, let’s head over to Northern Ireland, where it has been announced health officials will follow suit with the rest of the UK and offer another Covid booster jab to those aged 75 and over.

The Department of Health said the additional jab will also be offered to anyone over the age of 12 who is immunosuppressed.

Patricia Donnelly, head of Northern Ireland’s vaccination programme, said:

“The latest advice from the JCVI will help us transition to the next phase of our programme and enable us to put operational plans in place for 2022 and onwards so that we can continue to offer the vaccination and the protection it provides to those most at risk from the virus at the most appropriate time.”

As reported by the UK Health Security Agency:

Hello, Sam Hancock here, I’m taking over our live Covid coverage now.

Boris Johnson is due to address the House of Commons in around 10 minutes, so stay tuned as we bring you the latest from his plan to end Covid restrictions entirely.