Covid rules change sees fewer isolating

The proportion of people who fully self-isolate after testing positive for Covid-19 has fallen "significantly" since the rules were scrapped at the end of February, a new survey suggests.

Just 64% of people questioned said they had followed the full advice for self-isolating–down sharply from 80% in early February when isolation was a legal requirement.

The Government removed all rules for self-isolation in England on February 24, since when adults and children who test positive for corona virus have been advised to stay home and avoid contact with other people for at least five full days, and to follow this guidance until they have received two negative test results on consecutive days.

A survey was carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) between February 28 and March 8, found evels of compliance with the guidance were 63% among 18 to 34-year-olds, 62% among 35to54-year-oldsand68%for those aged over 55.

The past month has seen a steady rise in the number of Covid infections – but fewer deaths.

TimGibbs,headof the ONS public servicesanalysis team, said: "Now the legal requirement to self-isolate after testing positive for coronavirus has been removed, our data shows compliance with self-isolation rules was significantly lower than when self-isolation was a legal requirement.

The survey also shows that only 43% of respondents who left their homes during self-isolation or while they had symptoms said they had worn a mask every time they went outside, a steep drop from 66% in early February.