From today, people self-isolating with COVID-19 will have the option to reduce their isolation period after 5 full days if they test negative on both day 5 and day 6 and do not have a temperature.
However, people who are still positive on their rapid lateral flow tests must stay in isolation until they have had 2 consecutive negative tests taken on separate days – e.g. – if you test positive on day 5, you must have negative tests on days 6 and 7.
The change has been made after careful consideration by the UK Health Security Agency, and aims to help ease pressure on vital services caused by a significant increase in the number of people needing to self-isolate.
Those who leave self-isolation on or after day 6 are strongly advised to wear face coverings and limit close contact with other people in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, work from home if they can do so and minimise contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with COVID-19.
The default self-isolation period continues to be 10 days, and you may only leave self-isolation early if you have taken 2 rapid lateral flow tests and do not have a temperature in line with guidance.
In Swindon, COVID cases are still high, so it is important to get your vaccination of you have not already done so. The good news is that in Swindon there has a good vaccine uptake with 85% of people over 12 having had both doses.
If you haven’t had yours yet then there is still time, and you can book an appointment on the NHS website, by calling NHS 119, or by finding a walk-in vaccine session near to you.
Until the end of January, Swindon Borough Council is running a “Grab a Cab for a Jab”- which will provide a free return taxi trip to take people with health/mobility issues or limited finances to a COVID-19 vaccination site, if they have no other way to get there. More information can be found here
