COVID ISOLATION RULES RELAXED
MORE FREEDOM FOR PEOPLE WHO’VE HAD DOUBLE JAB
PEOPLE who have had both their vaccinations and come into contact with someone who tests positive for Covid will no longer have to self-isolate from Saturday.
As part of the Welsh Government rule change, fully vaccinated adults and children and young people under 18 will be exempt from the need to self-isolate if they are also identified as close contacts of a positive case. They will however be advised to go for a PCR test on days two and eight.
Anyone who tests positive for coronavirus or has symptoms must continue to isolate for 10 days, whether they have been vaccinated or not.
Until Saturday, August 7, it remains the case that anyone identified as close contacts of a confirmed Covid case should self-isolate for up to 10 full days. It is only a legal requirement if contacted and told to isolate by the Test Trace Protect service, but Welsh Government has said anyone who is notified by the app should also selfisolate. From August 7, if you test positive for coronavirus, whether you’ve had two injections or not, you have to continue to isolate for 10 days.
But, if you are an adult or under 18 who is identified as having had contact with someone who has tested positive and are double vaccinated, the TTP service will contact you with what’s being called a “warn and inform” service.
That will explain that you don’t need to self-isolate and you will be given advice and guidance about how to protect yourself and stay safe.
Everyone identified as a contact of a positive case will continue to be advised to have a PCR test on day two and day eight, whether they are fully vaccinated or not.
Those working with vulnerable people, particularly health and social care staff, will have extra measures to follow including a risk assessment for staff working in health and care and daily lateral flow tests. Members of the public will be strongly advised not to visit hospitals and care homes for 10 days.
The next review of rules in Wales is due to take place next Thursday, August 5, when Welsh Government is expected to lift nearly all coronavirus restrictions.
No decision has yet been taken on what will change in that review. The Welsh Government cabinet will meet on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to look at the latest data and make a decision.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Self-isolation on symptoms or a positive test result continues to be a powerful measure in helping to break the chains of transmission and stop the spread of the virus. It is important we retain this, even for people who have been fully vaccinated but we know a full course of the vaccine offers people protection against the virus and they are far less likely to contract it when they are identified as close contacts. This means they no longer need to self-isolate for 10 days.
“We can remove the need for selfisolation for the two million adults who have completed their vaccine course, helping to keep Wales safe and working.
“We are also removing the need for children and young people under 18 to self-isolate, recognising the impact long periods out of school and college is having on their well-being and education”.
The current system of support payments for people on low incomes who have to self-isolate because they have either tested positive or are a close contact of someone with the virus, will continue.
Health Minister Eluned Morgan said: “We need everyone’s help to control the spread of coronavirus – everything we do has an impact on this awful virus. Removing self-isolation for people who have had a full course of the vaccine is a really positive step forward but it doesn’t mean the end of isolation for all of us.
“If we want to see the back of coronavirus, we all need to take this virus seriously and isolate on symptoms and get tested. It’s also really important everyone takes up the offer of vaccination. It’s never too late to get vaccinated in Wales – clinics are open in every part of the country.”
In England, the UK Government had already said that from Monday, August 16, fully-vaccinated people as well as unvaccinated under-18s will not need to self-isolate if they come into contact with a positive case but they will be encouraged to take a PCR test, though UK Government Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said this will not be a legal requirement.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that Scotland, from midAugust will see a move away from mandatory self-isolation for close contacts, should the individuals affected be double-jabbed, with a move towards a “test and release” system.