BORIS Johnson will hold a press conference this evening as the era of nationwide lockdowns and Covid restrictions finally comes to an end in England.

The Prime Minister is expected to announce he is “finally giving people their freedom back” at a 7 p.m. briefing at Downing St.

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Professor Sir Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance will join him.

Mr Johnson’s long-awaited announcement got off to a rocky start when the Cabinet was delayed due to a row over money for testing.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid are said to be at odds over who pays once free lateral streams are removed.

He is set to unveil his “plan for life with Covid”, with Thursday being designated as Freedom Day.

As part of this program, it will remove the self-isolation rules.

The vaccination program, testing and other new treatments such as antiviral drugs will keep people safe, he will say.

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Speaking ahead of his announcement, Mr Johnson said: “Today will mark a proud moment after one of the most difficult times in our country’s history as we begin to learn to live with Covid.

“This would not be possible without the efforts of so many – the NHS who ensured the lifesaving vaccine was deployed at phenomenal speed, our world-renowned scientists and experts and the general public for their commitment to protecting themselves and their families. relatives.

“The pandemic is not over but thanks to the incredible deployment of vaccines, we are now getting closer to a return to normality and finally giving people back their freedoms while continuing to protect ourselves and others.”

It comes as Brits who haven’t had their boosters yet have been urged to get their vital shot, as restrictions are lifted.

Tonight’s address to the nation may be the pandemic’s last.

The Prime Minister is expected to brief MPs on his plans for the future when they return from parliamentary recess in February today before speaking to Britons in Downing Street.

Under the scheme, free lateral flow and PCR tests – which cost the taxpayer £2billion a week – will end.

This means bi-weekly testing for children in schools will also be halted.

The decision not to insist on isolation means millions of students will be free to stay in school if they contract the virus.

The guidance will instead focus on ventilation and other safety measures to keep children and teachers safe.

Passenger locator forms for overseas travel will likely be scrapped later this spring.

And the daily Covid dashboard, which for two years has shown the death toll from the virus, could be replaced by weekly surveillance data.

However, the Prime Minister warned that Covid “will not suddenly disappear”, as Britons were encouraged to be responsible and limit the spread.

“We must learn to live with this virus and continue to protect ourselves without restricting our freedoms,” he said.

Millions of elderly and vulnerable people could be offered six-monthly complementary injections.

Ministers have already secured 114 million doses of vaccine for the next two years.

The good news is that 85% of the UK population is now double vaccinated. 38 million additional boosters were administered.

No10 said: “Government intervention in people’s lives can finally come to an end.”

Daily Covid cases are at their lowest level in six months, with 25,696 positive tests yesterday and 74 deaths.

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