By Major change to coronavirus rules
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam has announced major changes to Englands coronavirus rules.
The self-isolation period for those with symptoms has been extended from seven to ten days.
Earlier today, Van-Tam told reporters that the change was being attributed to the “low but real possibility of infectiousness” between seven and ten days after the onset of the illness.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Health Secretary Matt Hancock added:
“The science on this has been developing and we want to take a precautionary approach to make sure that we can keep people in this country as safe as possible.
“We can see, sadly, a second wave of coronavirus that is starting to roll across Europe, many European countries whose number of cases is going up again.
“And we want to do everything we possibly can to protect people here, and protect people from that wave reaching our shores.”
The change comes as ministers try to avoid a resurgence of the virus, otherwise referred to as a second wave.
Until now, those showing key symptoms, including a new continuous cough, a temperature or loss of taste or smell, have been advised to self-isolate for at least a week.
The new advice is in line with guidance issued by the World Health Organization.
Prof Peter Openshaw told the BBC’s Today programme that most transmission takes place “at the time of symptoms developing, possibly for two days before”.
He supports the theory that ten days would be a safer margin, adding:
“We don’t really know that there’s very much transmission actually going on in those last couple of days, but I think in terms of trying to generally put pressure on the virus now.
“I can absolutely understand why the government might wish to introduce these changes.”
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