Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two were martyred in an initial toll of the Israeli drone strike that targeted the al-Asira neighborhood in the city of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the al-Asira neighborhood east of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are the greatest resistance. Know that 'Israel' will fall because it embodies aggression, crime, and occupation; victory is truly yours
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: The value of what you are doing despite your wounds is immense, and here you are, treading the path of the Master of Nation's Martyrs and the leaders
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are moving forward with insight deeper than sight itself. The enemy sought to eliminate your role in the battle, yet you remain steadfast and continue the fight
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors one year later: You are healing from your wounds and rising above them. You have successfully passed the test
Palestinian media: Reports of stabbing operation in occupied al-Quds.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in Arava in South, near Ramon Airport.
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country

Covid-19 tests are now an "impossible luxury" for UK's low-paid

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Feb 2022 11:53
3 Min Read

As the UK is set to lift pandemic-related laws and restrictions, UK's vulnerable and low-paid will witness the inequalities of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's decision.

  • x
  • UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson
    UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday that all pandemic legal curbs in England would end later this week, marking a shift from government intervention to personal responsibility.

This comes after Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak won a debate in the cabinet that called for lifting all pandemic restrictions, including Covid laws and free mass testing.

“We don’t need laws to compel people to be considerate to others. We can rely on that sense of responsibility towards one another,” Johnson told the Commons.

Covid restrictions-free

It means that Covid positive individuals are legally no longer required to isolate, and contacts of people testing positive are not obligated to test or isolate.

In addition, Covid passports will be scrapped but available for international travel.

However, Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, and Chief Scientific Adviser, Patrick Vallance, urged people to keep taking precautions.

Vallance indicated that he was concerned about the rates of infection once people return to pre-pandemic behavior.

Related News

UK town protests JD Vance’s holiday in the Cotswolds

British officials knew of 'Israel’s' plan to strike Iran: Sky News

“In terms of the current situation, I’d like the prevalence to be lower, I’d like rates of infection to be lower … We are not back to pre-pandemic behaviors yet. And as for those returns, you would expect the pressure and transmission to increase," he explained.

Sad news for the low-paid and vulnerable

Nonetheless, the recent news would mean that the low-paid and vulnerable people will be affected by Johnson's announcement, The Guardian reported.

The newspaper noted that the low-paid would not be able to afford tests and may come under pressure from employers to work when infected with Covid.

"Those on low pay will no longer get financial support to isolate if they test positive, and sick pay will revert to the pre-pandemic rules, with eligibility from day four of illness rather than day one," it mentioned.

The Guardian highlighted that "charities said the end of free tests was also a blow to clinically vulnerable people and older age groups, warning that they may lose confidence about going out in public."

"Tests are an impossible luxury"

Although welcomed by MPs opposed to Covid restrictions, Johnson's decision was criticized by unions, medics, and scientists.

According to The Guardian, the Labour party underlined that the PM's decision “hit the lowest paid and the most insecure workers the hardest."

Similarly, Professor Stephen Reicher, a member of Sage’s behavioral science subgroup, highlighted the inequalities that lifting the laws and restrictions would create.

"Johnson exposed the fallacy of his argument in asserting that ‘anyone who wants to can buy a test.' No they can’t. if you are already having to choose between eating and heating, tests are an impossible luxury," he expressed.

It is noteworthy that the UK was the first European country to pass 100,000 COVID deaths as more than 150,000 people have died after catching the coronavirus in the UK, the government announced on January 9, in a tragic milestone for one of the worst affected countries in Europe.

  • England
  • COVID-19
  • UK
  • United Kingdom
  • Boris Johnson
  • COVID-19 Vaccines

Most Read

Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Britain Trained Israeli Soldiers Involved in Gaza War: Declassified
Europe

UK training of Israeli officers sparks outcry over Gaza war complicity

Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden arrives for an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)
Politics

Luxembourg to recognize Palestine at UN summit next week

European Union flags flap in the wind outside EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

EU exec. branch to adopt new sanctions against 'Israel' on Wednesday

Charlie Kirk killing suspect faces charges in Utah court hearing
US & Canada

Charlie Kirk murder suspect faces formal charges in Utah court hearing

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS