Health chiefs in Bolton have mixed views over the easing of Covid restrictions.

This emerged as Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his blueprints for moving out of the pandemic.

The Prime Minister detailed the strategy for England to the Commons this afternoon after a Cabinet disagreement thought to centre on funding for future surveillance of the virus.

People who test positive for coronavirus will no longer be legally required to isolate from Thursday, and free universal testing will end in April under the plan for “living with Covid”.

Those who receive a positive Covid-19 test will still be advised to stay at home for at least five days, but will not be obliged to under law under the plans subject to parliamentary approval.

Routine contact tracing will also end on Thursday, as will self-isolation payments and the legal obligation for individuals to tell their employers about their requirement to isolate.

On Sunday, Mr Johnson told the BBC’s Sunday Morning programme the UK spent £2bn on testing in January alone and that such high expenditure did not need to continue.

Cllr Sue Baines, the borough’s health and wellbeing cabinet member, said: “It’s good to some degree that some restrictions will be lifted so we can get on with our lives more.

“But it is still an unpredictable condition, which is why it’s not an endemic.

“We had restrictions for virtually two years and it’s good that people are getting their freedom back.

“A lot of people suffered quite badly from being isolated, and their wellbeing was affected.

“It’s up to people to take individual responsibility really.

“Hand washing is still important, and face coverings if they feel it is appropriate for them.

“A lot of elderly people are wearing face coverings and they are fearful.”

Up until now, Bolton Council has been running their ‘Covid is still here’ campaign, as part of a Greater Manchester Combined Authority initiative.

This includes encouraging people to get their boosters; testing regularly; self isolating; wearing a face covering in crowded places; washing hands; and ensuring there is enough ventilation.

Cllr Sue Haworth, Labour adult services shadow cabinet member, said: “So much effort has gone in by us all in Bolton - workers, families and individuals, to keep safe from Covid 19, that it feels strange for me not to have any government published scientific evidence that backs these huge step down changes the government is making."

“If free Covid testing is ended in our borough, how will people be kept as safe as they have been in recent weeks? People can have Covid 19 and not know they have it and then they can pass it on to other people.

“Some of the people they will be mixing with may be vulnerable like those who are elderly or who have at risk medical conditions.”

Those who receive a positive Covid-19 test will still be advised to stay at home for at least five days, but will not be obliged to under law under the plans subject to parliamentary approval.

Routine contact tracing will also end on Thursday, as will self-isolation payments and the legal obligation for individuals to tell their employers about their requirement to isolate.

Mr Johnson also told MPs that changes to statutory sick pay and employment support allowance designed to help people through the coronavirus pandemic will end on March 24.

People aged 75 and over, the immunosuppressed and those living in care homes will be offered another Covid-19 booster vaccine this spring under the plans.

But free universal testing will be massively scaled back from April 1 and will instead be focused on the most vulnerable, with the UK Health Security Agency set to determine the details, while a degree of asymptomatic testing will continue in the most risky settings such as in social care.