SOUTHEND health bosses have given their opinion on Boris Johnson’s plans to completely scrap the legal requirement to self-isolate for people infected with Covid-19.

Under current rules people with coronavirus are legally required to self-isolate for the next 10 days. Those regulations will expire on March 24 – and the Prime Minister told MPs last week that they could be scrapped earlier.

Krishna Ramkhelawon, director of public health at Southend Council, said: “I would urge residents to continue to exercise common sense and do what makes them feel safe and protected.

“The public health role will continue to protect the local community and, as with any infectious disease, this means people who are unwell with symptoms will be advised to avoid contact with others to help prevent the spread of infection.”

Labour councillor Matt Dent questioned whether the move could lead to another surge in cases.

“We do seem to be getting control of Omicron, but we have seen before how quickly things can changed,” he said.

“While I am not an epidemiologist, I am concerned scrapping isolation requirements altogether could see another surge in cases, opening the floodgates.”

Last week Boris Johnson signalled his intention to start treating Covid-19 more like flu, saying: “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.”

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chairman of the council of the British Medical Association, which represents doctors, said it “risks creating a false sense of security” while infections remain high and the NHS is “still under crippling pressure”.

He added: “Removing all restrictions risks a rebound in the number of infections across society, would inevitably increase hospitalisation rates, further destabilise patient care and drive up the rate of staff absences and the number of people with long Covid.”