By Self-isolation cut to five full days in England
The minimum self-isolation period for people testing positive for Covid-19 in England has been cut to five full days.
The quarantine period has been reduced after a review of the medical evidence, to help ease staff shortages across the economy.
People will need to produce negative lateral flow tests on days five and six of their isolation.
The isolation period in England was last month cut from 10 to seven days – subject to negative tests on days six and seven last month.
Under isolation rules, the day symptoms begin or people test positive is day zero. The next day is day one of the isolation period.
People in England can now take a lateral flow test on day five. If it is negative, they can take another test 24 hours later on day six.
Assuming this is also negative – and they do not have a temperature – they can leave isolation.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said reducing isolation to five days would “restore extra freedoms and reduce the pressure on essential public services over the winter”.
People who still test positive on these days must stay in isolation until they have had two negative tests taken on consecutive days, or after 10 days.
16 and 17-year-olds are now able to book a booster jab or attend a walk-in vaccination centre in England.
Invitations will initially be sent to the 40,000 teens who had a second vaccine dose at least three months ago. Eventually more than 600,000 people aged 16 and 17 who have had two doses will be eligible for the booster.
And about 500 clinically vulnerable 12 to 15-years-olds who are most at risk from coronavirus will also be able to get a booster.
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