Covid self-isolation: New rule in England for those who test positive after medical review

Boris Johnson discusses reducing self-isolation period

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Today, if you test positive you must go into self-isolation for seven days.

Or at least you did, yesterday. Today is different.

The government has lowered the time you must spend in self isolation if you test positive with COVID-19, from seven to five days.

This has come after a review of the medical evidence that suggested it was safe to do so.

Whilst the self-isolation period has come down, a new rule dictates that you can only leave that isolation period after a negative test on day five and day six of your isolation.

If you test positive on days five and six you must continue to stay in isolation until they have had two negative tests on consecutive days.

Of the new restrictions, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said this new rule would “restore extra freedoms”.

These aren’t the only new rules and COVID related changes.

From today 16 and 17-year-olds can book their booster jab or get boosted through walk-in centres.

Teenagers will only be able to get their boosters if they had their second vaccine at least three months ago.

Around 600,000 16 and 17-year-olds are eligible for their booster.

Furthermore, around 500 clinically vulnerable 12 to 15-year-olds can also now get their booster jab.

The vaccine booster, or third dose as it is the same vaccine, has been the government’s chosen way to fight the rise of Omicron.

In December, they opened up the booster programme to every as Omicron surged in the country.

This put immense pressure on the NHS that was given less than 48 hours-notice.

On Omicron, there has been some recent positive news.

Cases are starting to plateau and fall in some places.

In London cases are beginning to drop and for the first time since the 21st December, the UK recorded fewer than 100,000 COVID-19 infections.

Whilst this is positive news, the pandemic is far from over, though as the days get longer, there may be promise of warmer times ahead.

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