It is a historic moment, the health secretary says - but he warns we must be ready for more variants.
The rest of the UK has not yet chosen to follow England's plan on Covid restrictions
But doctors, opposition parties and charities representing vulnerable people have criticised the changes. One-in-22 people in the UK had Covid last week, according to the latest Office for National Statistics infection survey - and a further 38,000 UK cases were announced on Monday.Asked on BBC Breakfast whether it was the right time to change the rules, Mr Javid replied: "Yes it is."
"Testing will be targeted in the areas where it makes most sense," he said. "And that will be vulnerable settings that includes care homes and NHS settings and also vulnerable people.
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