Sajid Javid declares Covid self-isolation is being cut to FIVE full days as long as people test negative on day five and six in bid to ease pressure of staff absences from Omicron wave
- Sajid Javid announced people can escape from Covid self-isolation on sixth day
- Currently the requirement is to test on sixth and seventh day, when can be freed
- Businesses and ministers have been pushing for change to ease staff shortages
Sajid Javid today declared that the self-isolation period is being cut to five full days in a bid to ease the pressure of staff absences from Omicron.
The Health Secretary confirmed the length of quarantine for positive cases is being reduced from the current seven days – which permits people to escape on the seventh day.
Instead, as of Monday people will be free in the sixth day – as long as they test negative on a lateral flow on days five and six.
The move came after NHS leaders, businesses and ministers joined the push for five full days, the timescale used in other countries including the US.
But government scientists had warned it could fuel the outbreak significantly, as people would be more likely to be infectious when they return to workplaces.
The news was hailed by firms as a ‘great relief’ after weeks of struggling to fill gaps in the workforce due to soaring infections. Labour also welcomed the news but questioned how many days had been lost to the NHS due to the delay in coming to a decision.
Senior Tories also praised the ‘very important step’ and urged ministers to rule out keeping Plan B restrictions in place beyond the end of this month – when they are due to expire.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured yesterday) is set to confirm the length of quarantine for positive cases is being reduced from the current seven days
Mr Javid updated MPs this afternoon after Boris Johnson said a decision would be made on the issue ‘as fast as possible’.
The UK Health Security Agency guidance has been for cases to isolate for at least six full days from the point at which they have symptoms or get a positive test, whichever was first.
They can escape self-isolation after two negative lateral flow test results on days six and seven. The tests must be at least 24 hours apart.
But Mr Javid said that was now being trimmed.
Mr Javid told MPs that UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data showed ‘that around two-thirds of positive cases are no longer infectious by the end of day five’.
He said that, from Monday, people will be able to take two tests to get out of isolation, ‘leaving isolation at the start of day six’.
‘I urge everyone to take advantage of the capacity we have built up on tests,’ he told the Commons.
Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt was among those welcoming the change. ‘We have one of the best vaccine programmes in the world. As a result of that, we can look forward to a time of living with Covid with justified confidence. And this is a very important step forward.’
Former Cabinet minister Greg Clark asked if the country is on track to lift Plan B measures on January 26.
He said: ‘Restrictions have an impact beyond Covid as we know and we should be as responsive in lifting them as we are in imposing them.’
He asked if ‘we are on track to lift the Plan B restrictions when they expire on January 26, and will he include in that the advice on facemasks in classrooms for which a particularly weak evidence base was published?’
Mr Javid said: ‘He has heard me say before, other members of Government say before, that no restrictions, none at all, should be in place for a moment longer than is absolutely necessary.’
He said the Plan B restrictions ‘are planned, unless this House was to decide otherwise, they would sunset on January 26. But in terms of what happens next, in terms of the Government’s own view, we will set that out as soon as we can.’
At Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, Mr Johnson said:’ We are certainly looking at reducing the isolation period, and we hope to bring you more about that.. as fast as possible. ‘
The decision will be be welcomed by Tories who have called for the change and could help ease pressure on the embattled Prime Minister.
It will also help address staff shortages across the economy and public services by allowing people to return to work earlier.
The rise in hospitalisations appears to have stalled but many people are having to isolate with milder symptoms, putting pressure on businesses
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