Covid rules being scrapped is a 'very high risk' gamble, warn Greater Manchester business leaders

Business and trade union leaders in Greater Manchester are ushering in a new Covid era with caution amid a 'very high risk' move from government.

Self-isolation rules have this morning (February 24) been scrapped following an announcement by Boris Johnson on Monday, which brought the end of pandemic rules in England forward by a month.

The legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive Covid test has today been replaced by guidance to do so, along with the rules requiring vaccinated close contacts to test for seven days and unvaccinated contacts to self-isolate.

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Routine contact tracing has also come to an end, along with the £500 self-isolation payment that was on offer to people on low incomes, and the legal obligation to tell employers about a positive Covid test.

Announcing the changes on Monday, the Prime Minister said: "We don’t need laws to compel people to be considerate of others.

"We can rely on that sense of responsibility towards one another, providing practical advice in the knowledge that people will follow it to avoid infecting loved ones and others."

But business leaders in Greater Manchester are warning that the changes coming into effect today could cause difficulty for workplaces.

The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce says the move is 'very high risk', with particular concerns for employees who are vulnerable to the coronavirus.

A spokesperson for the Chamber of Commerce said: "The announcement [on Monday] is a significant further step along the way of the recovery from the pandemic. It is, however, a very high-risk decision taken by the PM.

"The onus once again is being placed on