The Government is said to be drawing up plans for how we "live with covid" long-term without the need for any new restrictions.
Boris Johnson is expected to reveal the plan for how the UK can live with the virus in the future, setting out what restrictions we will see in the months ahead.
The Prime Minister said: "It is pointless keeping giving more and more vaccines to people who are not going to get very ill. We should just let them get ill and deal with that."
READ MORE: Boris Johnson 'considering' reducing seven day covid isolation
The Prime Minister is expected to axe free lateral flow tests for non-high risk situations and a reduction in isolation periods, according to The Mirror.
It comes as the UK's official covid death toll passed 150,000 in a tragic milestone on Saturday.
More than 1.2 million cases have been confirmed in the past week across the UK as the Omicron variant rips through the country.
With early data suggesting Omicron is less serious than previous variants, the former head of the UK's vaccine task force has suggested covid should be treated more like flu.
Dr Clive Dix, chairman of the government agency from December 2020 until April, also thinks booster jabs should only be given to the most vulnerable Brits.
While Dr David Speigelhalter, warned that people "are going to catch it and might catch it again" and would have to get used to it.
Boris Johnson is aiming to implement his "live with covid" strategy by March, Daily Mail reports.
A government spokesman denied it is aiming for that month and “the exact format of that and what it will look like has not been decided”.
Asked if covid will become endemic, he added: “That is certainly our expectation that at some point that’s where we will get to. That has been the nature of previous epidemics, previous pandemics, that is the advice we’ve received…. exactly what point we’re on is still too early to say.”
Here we take a look at what could happen.
Lateral flow tests
Free lateral flow tests could soon be shelved for most of the public within weeks, it has been reported.
Under plans reportedly being weighed up by officials, the tests could soon only be available in "high-risk" settings such as care homes, hospitals and schools.
However government sources have disputed the report and said it is too early to say what will happen with the tests, while Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said there were "absolutely not" any plans to scrap them currently.
The move would also see the NHS Test and Trace service scaled back, The Sunday Times reports.
Shorter isolation periods
The Prime Minister has confirmed ministers are considering reducing the self-isolation period for fully vaccinated people who test positive for covid.
Speaking to broadcasters during a visit to a vaccination clinic in Uxbridge, Boris Johnson said: "There's a similar argument to be had about the quarantine period - whether to come down from seven days to five days.
"The thing to do is to look at the science. We are looking at that and we will act according to the science."
PCR tests
From Tuesday anyone who tests positive for covid by lateral flow will not have a PCR test providing they have no symptoms.
The rule change will affect around 40 per cent of people with covid but they will still have to isolate for at least seven days.
The isolation period will now start from the date of their positive lateral flow test.
Currently, people have to start their isolation period from when they test positive on a PCR, the results of which may take days to come back.
The change - last performed in January-March 2021 - will effectively cut the isolation time because it takes a couple of days to get and await the result of a PCR test.
Social distancing
The two metre social distancing rules were scrapped on July 19 when most restrictions were ditched.
However the one metre should still be enforced in specific places such as airport arrival halls and if you test positive and are on your way to self-isolation.
Face masks wearing axed then reintroduced.
The rules for wearing face masks were axed on July 19 but were reintroduced last month tackle the Omicron surge.
However the rules are more relaxed and there are more places where face masks need not be worn.
The hospitality sector is exempt from the changes, so these rules won't apply in restaurants, cafes, bars or pubs.
Face masks are also exempt if you are exercising or singing.
Refusing to wear a face mask in areas where they have been outlined as mandatory could land people with a £200 fine.
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