People in England that have received two doses of a coronavirus vaccine will no longer need to self-isolate if they come into contact with someone with COVID-19 after 16 August, the Health Secretary has announced.
Up to now, anyone who has been identified as a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 has had to self-isolate for 10 days.
In a statement to the House of Commons on Tuesday, Sajid Javid confirmed that the self-isolation rules would be relaxed on 16 August, in light of the success of the UK’s coronavirus vaccination programme. The Health Secretary added that self-isolation rules for under 18s will also end on the same date.
People who have only received a single dose of a vaccine will still need to self-isolate, as will people that have not been vaccinated at all. People that test positive for the virus will still need to self-isolate, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated.
Speaking to MPs in the House of Commons, Mr Javid said;
“From 16 August, when even more people will have the protection of both doses and when modelling suggests the risks from the virus will be even lower, anyone who is a close contact of a positive case will no longer have to self-isolate if they have been fully vaccinated,” he said.
“If someone gets their second dose just before or just after 16 August, they will need to wait two weeks – after which their second jab can take effect and give them these new freedoms.”
The announcement comes after the Government announced plans yesterday for ending almost all coronavirus restrictions on 19 July.
