COVID-19 self-isolation cut to five full days in England
pharmafile | January 17, 2022 | News story | Sales and Marketing |
The minimum self-isolation period for people testing positive for COVID-19 in England has been cut from seven days to five full days. This cut to the quarantine period comes after a review of the medical evidence, and to assuage the burden caused by staff shortages across the country.
However, people will still need to produce negative lateral flow tests on days five and six of their isolation. Last month, the isolation period in England was cut from ten to seven days – subject to negative tests on days six and seven. Under current isolation rules, the day that symptoms begin, or that people test positive, counts as 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, and if this 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 immediately leave isolation.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said that reduce isolation to five days would “restore extra freedoms and reduce the pressure on essential public services over the winter”. However, he emphasised the importance of taking lateral flow tests on day five and six, which he said were a “crucial” part of the “balanced and proportionate” plans. People who continue to test positive on these days are required to stay in isolation until they have had two negative tests taken on consecutive days, or after 10 days.
UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) data showed that two-thirds of positive cases were no longer infectious by day five. The government is currently considering the guidance on isolation for close contacts of people with COVID-19, including that for fully vaccinated close contacts to take daily rapid lateral flow tests for seven days.
Lina Adams
