The prime minister is expected to repeal some powers of the Coronavirus Act as he sets out the government’s plan for managing COVID-19 over the autumn and winter.
Boris Johnson will outline the next steps in the pandemic response at a news conference next week.
Number 10 said COVID-19 will circulate alongside flu and other respiratory viruses, with the threat of a new variant adding to the unpredictability of the colder months.
But Mr Johnson is likely to repeal Coronavirus Act powers in England that are deemed no longer necessary, including:
• Powers to close down the economy
• Powers to impose restrictions on events and gatherings
• Powers to temporarily close or restrict access to schools
• Powers to detain infectious people.
Powers that are deemed as “critical to protect and support the public” will remain, including giving sick pay to those isolating from day one rather than day seven of their isolation, directing schools to remain open if they are closing against government guidance, and helping the NHS to get the emergency resources it needs.
People will also still have to isolate if they test positive for COVID-19, in an effort to protect the most vulnerable from infection and to control the spread of variants, Number 10 said.
Mr Johnson said: “Thanks to the efforts of the public, the NHS and our phenomenal vaccination programme, we reached Step 4 in our Roadmap and life has returned to a sense of normality.
“These extraordinary times required necessary but intrusive measures. But I’m determined to get of rid of any powers we no longer need because of our vaccine defences.
“I will set out the next phase in our COVID response shortly.”
The Public Health (control of disease) Act of 1984 is separate from the Coronavirus Act and contains emergency powers that can be used in pandemics if there is the potential for significant harm to human health.
No changes are planned for the Public Health Act.
The COVID management plan will focus on vaccines as the “first line of defence” in the autumn and winter, supported by new treatments, testing, and variant surveillance.
As of 9 September, nearly 90% of the UK population aged over 16 have received a first dose of a COVID vaccine, and over 80% have received both doses.
A decision is expected next week from the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation (JCVI) on how widely a third jab should be offered to boost protection.
Public Health England data shows that two doses of the Pfizer vaccine is 96% effective against hospitalisation from the Delta variant, while the Astra-Zeneca vaccine in 92% effective.
But it has already been confirmed that those who have compromised immune systems will be offered a third vaccine dose, as they are likely not to have gained enough protection from two doses.
Ms Sultana also said she was “resigning” from the Labour Party after 14 years.
She was suspended as a Labour MP shortly after they came to power last summer for voting against the government maintaining the two-child benefit cap.
Several others from the left of the party, including Mr Corbyn, were also suspended for voting against the government, and also remained as independent MPs.
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However, Ms Sultana was still a member of the Labour Party – until now.
Mr Corbyn has previously said the independent MPs who were suspended from Labour would “come together” to provide an “alternative.
The other four are: Iqbal Mohamed, Shockat Adam, Ayoub Khan and Adnan Hussain.
Mr Corbyn and the other four independents have not said if they are part of the new party Ms Sultana announced.
In her announcement, Ms Sultana said she would vote to abolish the two-child benefit cap again and also voted against scrapping the winter fuel payment for most pensioners.
Ms Sultana also voted against the government’s welfare bill this week, which was heavily watered down as Sir Keir Starmer tried to prevent a major rebellion from his own MPs.
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On Wednesday, Ms Sultana spoke passionately against Palestine Action being proscribed as a terror organisation – but MPs eventually voted for it to be.
She said to proscribe it is “a deliberate distortion of the law to chill dissent, criminalise solidarity and suppress the truth”.
Ms Sultana said they were founding the new party because “Westminster is broken but the real crisis is deeper – just 50 families now own more wealth than half the UK population”.
She called Reform leader Nigel Farage “a billionaire-backed grifter” leading the polls “because Labour has completely failed to improve people’s lives.
Image: Ms Sultana called Nigel Farage a ‘billionaire-backed grifter’. Pic: PA
The MP, who has spoken passionately about Gaza, added: “Across the political establishment, from Farage to Starmer, they smear people of conscience trying to stop a genocide in Gaza as terrorists.
“But the truth is clear: this government is an active participant in genocide. And the British people oppose it.
“We are not going to take this anymore.”
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “In just 12 months, this Labour government has boosted wages, delivered an extra four million NHS appointments, opened 750 free breakfast clubs, secured three trade deals and four interest rate cuts lowering mortgage payments for millions.
“Only Labour can deliver the change needed to renew Britain.”