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Covid 10 day isolation period could be ‘reduced to help save Christmas gatherings’
The health secretary is reportedly backing plans to reduce the isolation time period for those who have tested positive
The Covid ten-day isolation period could be reduced in order to ease shortages among NHS staff and to ‘save’ Christmas gatherings.
New reports claim that the proposed changes would allow those who have tested positive for Covid to leave their self isolation on days six and seven if they receive negative lateral flow tests.
According to The Times, Health secretary Sajid Javid is keen to tweak current measures urgently, as a huge number of medical staff currently remain in isolation due to Covid, ultimately putting more pressure on the NHS.
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, told the newspaper: “The impact on the workloads of remaining staff who are already working incredibly hard given the huge demands on the service is a major concern.
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“Unlike last January, trusts are not only dealing with Covid-19 care but also seeing real pressure on emergency care, tackling a significant backlog of routine care and accelerating and expanding the vaccination campaign.”
The new rules, which are expected to come into effect this week, would also free up Christmas Day for tens of thousands of people, whose plans had otherwise been scrapped by the ten day isolation requirement.
Professor Neil Ferguson from Imperial College London has supported the rule change, saying the window could be reduced if people completed a negative test.
He told the Sunday Telegraph: “I think if it could be coupled with lateral flow testing, so testing negative to release.
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“All the modelling and analysis would suggest if it is coupled with lateral flow testing, [isolating for just seven days is] not going to reduce the effectiveness of the measures that much.”
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) added that people should avoid social events if anyone in their household tests positive, noting that it would be helpful to use lateral flow devices ‘at a group level’ as well as individually.
Sage said in a statement: “If there is one positive test within a group (such as a household) there is a significant chance that others are already infected, even if not yet testing positive.
“If one person from a group tests positive prior to an event or gathering, then none should attend.”