The UK reduces COVID-19 self-isolation to 7 days for most people in the UK

LONDON, Dec. 22 (Reuters) – The British government has reduced the COVID-19 self-isolation period from 10 days to seven days from Wednesday for those in the UK who get a negative result in a two-day lateral flow test. Sequence.

The Omicron variant is spreading rapidly in the UK Registration levels Factories have been struggling with staff shortages over the past week, including hospitals warning of the risk of an impact on patient safety.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in its analysis recommended a seven-day isolation period with two negative lateral flow test results, with the same protective effect as a 10-day isolation period without testing.

“We want to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on people’s daily lives,” Health Secretary Sajid Javed said in a statement.

Quick lateral flow tests, provided free of charge by the UK National Health Service, can be self-administered by at-home and give results in 15 to 30 minutes.

The government has said that those who get a negative lateral run on the sixth and seventh day of the self-isolation period should no longer be isolated for 10 days, with tests taken at 24-hour intervals.

The UKHSA said those who leave their isolation after seven days are “strongly advised” to limit contact with others in congested or poorly ventilated areas, work from home and reduce contact with those most vulnerable to COVID-19.

“The new approach reflects the latest evidence of how long the virus has been spreading and supports essential public services and distribution chains during the winter, while at the same time controlling the spread of the virus,” UKHSA said.

There are currently 129 people hospitalized with the Omicron variant, with 14 deaths so far, according to UK government data.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday he would not introduce new COVID-19 restrictions in the UK before Christmas, but the situation was so dire that the government would have to act later. read more

Further restrictions depend on the data obtained.

“As the Prime Minister said, the results are well balanced. The entire government looks at all the data on a daily basis and we are reviewing it very carefully,” Javid said.

“If new regulations are needed and the data show that they are needed, of course we will not hesitate to act.”

UKHSA is expected to release more information about Omicron before Christmas.

Kylie McClellan’s Report Additional Report by James Davy Editing by Jonathan Odyssey and Mark Potter

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