Isolation cut
Stay home for 10 days, not 14 But virus rises in South East
THE 14-day isolation period for holidaymakers and those who have had close contact with Covid patients will be slashed to 10 days.
The UK’s chief medical officers announced the major overhaul yesterday after concluding that only 2% of people were infectious after 10 days.
The change comes into effect at 12.01am on Monday although Wales has already axed 14-day isolation.
Meanwhile, Government scientists say the R rate – the number of people a sufferer may infect – could now be above 1 in London, the East and the South East. The average across the UK is 0.9 to 1.
There were 424 coronavirus deaths yesterday, taking the grim total to 63,506.
Data for the week ending December 5 shows infections falling in most areas. But positive cases are up in London and the East.
Infections remain highest among secondary pupils and under-24s.
It is estimated that around one in 115 people in England had the virus in the week ending December 5, compared to one in 105 the week before. Yesterday’s quarantine change was triggered by concerns that enforced time off work was leading to financial hardship and follows a poll showing that only 11% isolated properly.
In Liverpool, those who may have been exposed to the virus are being sent boxes of rapid daily tests. If t they ey show negative in the morning, orning, of people they can go about their business as normal. Dozens of local authorities under the harshest coronavirus curbs are also set to offer enhanced testing in a bid to cut cases.
In Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford called the situation “very serious” and warned we could be facing another full lockdown in the New Year if rates do not fall.
He revealed that devolved leaders met Michael Gove on Wednesday to discuss tearing up plans for Christmas.
However, they decided not to alter the revised rules on household mixing as “many people will have made plans”.
A string of experts this week warned we will not return to normal in April, despite the vaccines. Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said any retreat from the rules would only be gradual.
And Prof Tim Spector of King’s College London predicted: “We’ll be in a phase-out for at least another year.”
A senior government source told the Mirror they expected some virus rules to continue into the summer.