We need to reduce self-isolation to five days for the sake of the NHS and our fragile economy

Isolation should be reduced to 5 days

Only after Boris Johnson keeps England open for Christmas and New Year’s is expected to increase on January 1.

Worst estimates claim a quarter of public sector workers could self-isolate because Omicron is so easy to get hold of.

So when will the Prime Minister reduce the period of isolation further?

There are over one lakh frontline workers stranded at home for seven days or more along with hospitalisation.

But there is all the evidence that the Omicron is not as dangerous as the previous variants and is gentle on most triple stings.

And our superb Army Jabs Booster deployment does a wonderful job of protecting the elderly and vulnerable from serious illness.

So when will the Prime Minister reduce the period of isolation further?

The United States is a leader in reducing isolation to five days.

We agree with UK experts who say we should follow suit.

All triple injections who test negative after five days should be able to return to work.

It is not only the NHS that needs all the help possible.

Our fragile economy also deserves help to save lives.

We cannot fully control our borders if we cannot deport foreign criminals or unsuccessful asylum seekers.

But some countries have a poor record of accepting returning citizens.

There are about 6,000 unsuccessful asylum seekers in this country because their country of origin will not agree to accept them.

On top of that, 12,000 convicted foreign thugs are awaiting deportation, 8,000 more than ten years ago.

Yet The Gambia has caught just four criminals in 2020 and Sierra Leone and Eritrea are shamefully dragging their feet.

Home Minister Priti Patel’s visa ban against these arrangements is a good start. But we must go further.

Like cutting their foreign aid.

If you want to know how Britain would perform under Labour, take a look at The Shambles in Wales.

The only ruling Labor government in the UK is accused of wasting £1.2bn on failed projects.

The tyrant Mark Drakeford, who runs it, likes to complain about Westminster’s failures, accusing Boris Johnson of paralysis on Covid.

But its unnecessarily severe lockdown will hit Welsh businesses heavily in the new year.

Drowning Drakeford is Sir Keir Starmer’s worst nightmare.

Covid restrictions ‘can’t even be introduced in the new year’ as Sajid Javid praises use of boosters to fight Omicron