Isolation scrapped for contacts of Covid cases

‘Ineffective and hated’ system will be dismantled and replaced by daily testing

SELF-ISOLATION will no longer be required for contacts of positive Covid cases under plans announced by the Government today.

Instead, contacts of those who test positive will be asked to undergo daily tests for seven days, and will be allowed to go about their business.

Ministers will today say that the current system – which was criticised by the Government’s own advisers as “massively ineffective and hated” – will be dismantled nationwide in January, if pilot schemes succeed.

As well as ending the self-isolation system, it could form part of an exit strategy from tiered restrictions. Poor adherence to the current system of isolation – requiring people to stay at home for 14 days – is one of the key drivers of infection rates. Officials hope people will be more likely to comply with a series of quick daily tests than adhere to a two-week quarantine

The plan to end self-isolation is part of a wider mass testing strategy which could also see care home residents allowed to receive frequent visits from their loved ones.

Tests will be rolled out for visitors to care homes, allowing family members to hug and hold hands. If that pilot scheme in 20 homes is successful, from next month every care home resident will be allowed to have up to two visitors who can be tested twice a week.

The Prime Minister will say the new system of repeat testing for contacts of positive cases – which is to be piloted in Liverpool from today – would help the country to “get the virus back under control”.

Under the current system, those with a positive result are required to stay home for 10 days, while their “close contacts” must stay home for 14 days.

There is no limit for the number of times people can be asked to self-isolate, meaning that individuals can be repeatedly told to spend two weeks in isolation. There are also no exclusions for those who have already had the illness, including Boris Johnson, who is currently in self-isolation which is due to end this Thursday.

Mr Johnson is expected to detail the testing plans – part of “Operation Moonshot” – as he sets out a new tier system today, and plans for the relaxation of restrictions over Christmas.

Areas that fall into the highest tiers will also be given early access to expanded testing to give them “a direct route out of the toughest restrictions”.

Officials said the Liverpool pilot scheme, which has seen more than 200,000 people tested, has contributed to a substantial fall in Covid cases.

Warning that Britain is “not out of the woods yet” despite a flattening in new cases, the Prime Minister will say: “The virus is still present in communities across the country, and remains both far more infectious and far more deadly than seasonal flu.

“But with expansion in testing and vaccines edging closer to deployment, the regional tiered system will help get the virus back under control.”

Yesterday, 18,662 infections and 398 deaths were recorded. However, the death toll was inflated by 141 cases which should have been added to Saturday’s figure of 341.

Health officials said: “Crucially, [care home] visitors will be able to have physical contact, such as a hug or holding hands, with their loved ones.”

Daily testing for those in close contact with positive Covid cases will rely on “lateral flow” tests, which give results in less than 30 minutes.

18,662

DAILY CORONAVIRUS CASES

-19.5%

CHANGE IN 7-DAY AVERAGE

55,024

DEATHS +398