Johnson: Time is right to move away from ‘state mandation’ on self-isolation

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy It is time for the UK to shift the balance away from “state mandation”, the Prime Minister said as he prepares to end the legal requirement for self-isolation. “The second thing is we do need therefore to continue having surveillance, because you won’t know whether you’ve reached that point where the infection rates have come down enough until you’ve had that surveillance.” Labour’s shadow secretary for health, Wes Streeting, described ending access to free testing as being like “subbing your best defender” with 10 minutes to go. “We are not out of the woods yet on Covid and it is important that when the Government publishes its plan for living with Covid tomorrow, that it is a robust plan that enables everyone to live well with Covid.” In the BBC Sunday Morning interview, Mr Johnson also refused to say what he told police about alleged lockdown parties in Downing Street in a questionnaire. He added: “I can’t comment about the processes currently under way.” Asked if the public would take the Prime Minister’s instruction to follow the Covid rules again following the accusations, he said: “I’ll answer all that when the time comes on that point.