The self-isolation period for fully vaccinated people in England who test positive for COVID-19 has been reduced to 5 days, down from 7.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced the change in a statement to the House of Commons on Thursday, saying “around two-thirds of positive cases are no longer infectious by the end of day five”.
The change is set to come into effect on Monday, with people who test negative on day five of isolation and then also on day six. The reduction in the isolation period is expected to ease pressures in some sectors including the NHS, transport and education, which have seen large numbers of people unable to go to work due to them violating.
The move has been welcomed by Labour, though they have called on the Government to “sort out testing” after problems with the supply and delivery of lateral flow test kits over the Christmas period.
The United States changed their isolation policy in December to 5 days, though unlike the UK, do not require people to get tested in order to leave isolation.
