Mr Johnson mentioned the nation was "shifting from authorities restrictions to private accountability" as a part of a plan for treating COVID-19 like different transmissible diseases similar to flu.
"We now have ample ranges of immunity to finish the transition from defending individuals with authorities interventions to counting on vaccines and coverings as the primary line of defence," Mr Johnson mentioned.
Regardless of warnings from scientists that ending restrictions may weaken the nation's potential to watch and monitor coronavirus, Mr Johnson confirmed that necessary self-isolation for individuals with COVID-19 will finish beginning on Thursday, and the routine tracing of contaminated individuals's contacts will cease.
Folks will nonetheless be suggested to remain residence if they're sick — however will now not get further monetary assist launched in the course of the pandemic for individuals who miss work.
Many individuals who suppose they've COVID-19 could by no means know for positive.
Beginning April 1, lab-confirmed PCR exams for the virus will likely be accessible free solely to older individuals and the immune-compromised.
The federal government may also cease providing the general public free fast virus exams, although they are going to be accessible privately for a value, as is already the case in lots of nations.
But the federal government burdened that the pandemic is just not over and the virus may nonetheless spring nasty surprises.
Mr Johnson mentioned the truth that that Queen Elizabeth II examined constructive for COVID-19 on Sunday was "a reminder that this virus has not gone away."
Buckingham Palace mentioned the 95-year-old monarch was experiencing gentle, cold-like signs, was persevering with with gentle duties and would comply with all authorities laws.
The brand new plan foresees vaccines and coverings retaining the virus in test.
Everybody 75 and older will likely be provided a fourth vaccine dose, together with these 12 and up who've situations that make them susceptible to extreme illness.
The federal government mentioned it would settle for suggestions from its vaccine advisory group on whether or not fourth pictures needs to be provided extra extensively.
Mr Johnson urged individuals to not "throw warning to the winds," however mentioned it was time to maneuver "away from banning sure programs of motion, compelling sure programs of motion, in favour of encouraging private accountability."
Nonetheless, opposition chief Keir Starmer demanded scientific proof to again up the dropping of guidelines.
"Ignorance is bliss is just not a legitimate response to a lethal virus," he mentioned, calling the announcement, "half baked."
Some scientists, nonetheless, mentioned it was a dangerous transfer that would carry a surge in infections and weaken the nation's defences in opposition to extra virulent future strains.
Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, which developed the AstraZeneca vaccine, mentioned "the choice about when and how one can cut back restrictions is enormously tough."
He mentioned it was important to keep up "surveillance for the virus, an early warning system in the event you like, which tells us about new variants rising and provides a capability to watch whether or not these new variants are certainly inflicting extra extreme illness than omicron did."
The federal government mentioned it could retain a robust surveillance system, together with the An infection Survey performed by the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics, which is taken into account invaluable as a result of it exams individuals whether or not or not they've signs.
It mentioned it additionally will hold the flexibility to ramp up testing if wanted.
Mr Johnson's Conservative authorities lifted most virus restrictions in January, scrapping vaccine passports for venues and ending masks mandates in most settings aside from hospitals in England.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Eire, which set their very own public well being guidelines, even have opened up, though extra slowly.
Monday's announcement applies solely to England, which is residence to 56 million of the UK's 67 million individuals.
It leaves England with fewer restrictions than most different European nations, except Denmark.
A mix of excessive vaccination charges within the U.Ok. and the milder omicron variant meant that easing restrictions did not result in a surge in hospitalisations and deaths. Each are falling, although the UK nonetheless has Europe's highest coronavirus toll after Russia, with greater than 160,000 recorded deaths.
In Britain, 85 per cent of individuals age 12 and up have had two vaccine doses and virtually two-thirds have had a 3rd booster shot.
The announcement was welcomed by many Conservative Get together lawmakers, who argue that the restrictions have been inefficient and disproportionate.
It may shore up Mr Johnson's place amongst social gathering lawmakers, who've been mulling an try to oust him over scandals together with lockdown-breaching authorities events in the course of the pandemic.
Well being psychologist Robert West, a member of a authorities advisory committee, mentioned the Conservative authorities was abdicating its "accountability for taking care of its inhabitants."
"It seems to be as if what the federal government has mentioned is that it accepts that the nation goes to should stay with someplace between 20,000 and 80,000 COVID deaths a yr and is not actually going to do something about it," he mentioned, talking in a private capability. "Now that appears to me to be irresponsible."
Hanging images doc a pandemic like no different