Health Secretary Sajid Javid today confirmed that from Wednesday the COVID-19 self-isolation period will reduce to seven days from 10 days for people who get a negative result on a lateral flow test two days in a row.
“We want to reduce the disruption from COVID-19 to people’s everyday lives,” health secretary Sajid Javid said in a statement.
This reduction follows analysis from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) which suggests a seven-day isolation period alongside two negative lateral flow test results had nearly the same protective effect as a 10-day isolation period without testing.
Despite this reduction in the isolation period, the UKHSA have “strongly advised” those who leave their self-isolation after seven days to limit contact with others in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, work from home and minimise contact with those most vulnerable to COVID-19.
