People dancing in Bar Fibre in Leeds, after the final legal coronavirus restrictions were lifted in England at midnight. Picture: PABRITISH Prime Minister Boris Johnson's 'freedom day' ending over a year of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions in England was marred on Monday by surging infections, warnings of supermarket shortages and his own forced self-isolation. Johnson said just hours after he was forced to abandon a plan to dodge the 10-day quarantine requirement for himself and finance minister Rishni Sunak. Johnson sets Covid-19 restrictions for England, with devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland making their own policy. He will now isolate at his country residence at Chequers after health minister Sajid Javid tested positive.

Source: Irish Independent July 19, 2021 08:03 UTC