ENGLAND will become the first developed country in the world to declare victory over Covid.
Boris Johnson announced yesterday that our fast vaccine rollout means we are on course to ditch the final curbs a month early — the last legal restrictions being lifted by February 24.
The triumphant Prime Minister has told pals: “We got Covid done.”
In a bonfire of domestic lockdown curbs, Brits will no longer be legally required to isolate for five days if they catch coronavirus.
This will free millions of kids to stay in school rather than be sent home repeatedly because of symptoms that are usually no more than a cold.
Councils will also be stripped of emergency powers that lets them close businesses they deem a risk.
On the same day these last domestic laws are scrapped, No 10 also wants to tear up the final Covid border controls.
Hated passenger locator forms and rules forcing unvaccinated travellers to get two tests before being allowed into Britain will be binned, as long as scientists agree.
The travel tests are already being scrapped for vaccinated travellers from tomorrow.
While the daily Covid dashboard, which for two years has illustrated the tragic death toll of the virus, may be replaced with weekly surveillance data.
Mr Johnson told delighted MPs in the Commons yesterday: “Provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions a full month early.”
His spokesman hailed the public for getting the nation through the toughest period in its history since the Second World War.
He said: “This would represent an important step for this country as we move out of the pandemic.
“It’s thanks to the British people, who stepped up when needed, both at the start of the vaccination programme and the booster programme at Christmas.
“A boon both for the public and also to our hard hit businesses, particularly in hospitality, enabling our economy to grow further, showing that the hard work has paid off.”
The PM will bring forward his plan, Living With Covid, when Parliament returns back from half term holidays on February 21.
Provided scientists give him the go-ahead, he plans to scrap all remaining domestic laws and Covid border controls later that week on February 24.
Free lateral flow tests will continue for a while longer but they are expected to be stopped at the end of March, when current funding for them runs out.
Since Covid crashed onto our shores two years ago, the country has faced its biggest collective challenge since the 1940s. Schools were shut, pubs were closed while families and friends kept apart for months.
Yesterday, politicians and business chiefs hailed the news as a landmark moment.
But they warned that never again must Britain lock down.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “We are the most free country in Europe thanks to the strong defences we have built. We’re learning to live with Covid.”
Matt Hancock, the former Health Secretary who helped steer the nation through the pandemic, said: “It has been a tough and unprecedented two years for everyone.
“We must always remember those who have lost their lives.
“I am delighted it now looks like we can leave the pandemic restrictions behind us.
“Britain got the big calls right — massive early investment in vaccines, one of the biggest testing systems in the world, the amazing response from the NHS, discovering the main treatments to save lives and a balanced response to new variants.
“A year ago, I was saying we need to learn to live with Covid like flu. Now, at last, that’s becoming a reality.
“We have come through this unprecedented pandemic together.”
Former Cabinet minister Lord David Frost said: “The PM’s plan to end all Covid restrictions a month early is the right thing to do and is extremely welcome.
“I hope that the Government will also make clear we will not go down the road of coercive lockdowns ever again.”
Kate Nicholls, head of UK Hospitality, hailed the huge “step forward” and added: “This is a clear signal that we are through this.
“The price of lockdown has been a heavy one in terms of jobs and businesses but also social and community health and wellbeing.
“It is a price too high to pay again.”
Greg Mulholland, director for the Campaign for Pubs, said: “Publicans up and down the country will breathe a huge sigh of relief at the end of Covid restrictions in England, after their most difficult couple of years ever.
“Many thousands of fingers will be crossed that the positive trends continue and that we can finally put lockdowns and restrictions in the past.
“If that happens as hoped on February 24, there will be many a glass raised in pubs that day and then that whole weekend will be one to enjoy and celebrate.”
Mr Johnson’s decision piles pressure on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to name a date on which they will ditch legal curbs.
Yet Scottish ministers said yesterday that instead of ending restrictions they could extend the powers, which are due to conclude on February 28, for another six months.
