What does Greater Manchester's public health leader think about plans to scrap Covid isolation?

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The Prime Minister's announcement that the legal rule to self-isolate could end this month has been branded as 'concerning' by Greater Manchester' public health leader.

England's remaining Covid restrictions, including the requirement to self-isolate for at least five full days following a positive test, could cease in a matter of days, according to Boris Johnson.

Last week, the Prime Minister told MPs that he expected the rules, currently due to expire on March 24, to end 'a full month early' as long as 'encouraging trends in the data continue'.

But Greater Manchester's lead director of public health is 'worried' by the Mr Johnson's suggestion that the removal of self-isolation could be imminent, calling for a full scientific breakdown of the implications of such a decision from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).

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Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Professor Kate Ardern said: " It's a really important public health measure. So I was surprised, I will say, by the announcement, and I was concerned not to see a full scientific assessment of taking away self-isolation as a requirement.

"I would have expected to see a full scientific assessment from SAGE, and possibly an announcement by the chief medical officer because it is actually a very important decision.

"My concern, and I'm sure that's shared by others, was heightened by the fact that Professor John Evans, who is a member of SAGE was interviewed on Robert Peston's show on Wednesday evening, saying that SAGE had not actually discussed the matter."

The need to see the scientific evidence for scaling back legal requirements to self-isolate goes is about 'transparency' with the public, the public health chief continued.

"I think it's