Self-isolation is extended to ten days
People who test positive for coronavirus or display symptoms must now self-isolate for ten days as health secretary Matt Hancock warned of a “second wave starting to roll across Europe”.
The UK’S chief medical officers said yesterday he period must increase from the existing rule of seven days because of the risk individuals may still be able to spread Covid-19.
In a joint statement, they said thechangeforthosewhoexperience the key symptoms of a new continuous cough, high temperature or loss of taste or smell was needed because of the “low, but real possibility of infectiousness” up to ten days.
Their move came as official analysis said England had the highest levels of excess mortality in Europe across the first half of 2020.
Mr Hancock earlier warned a new spike in Covid-19 cases was “clearly” beginning to emerge in Europe as he said “we’ve got to do everything” to prevent it reaching the UK.
“I am worried about a second wave,” he said. “I think you can see a second wave starting to roll across Europe and we’ve got to do everything we can to prevent it from reaching these shores and to tackle it.”
The chief medical officers for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland said that it was “now the correct balance of risk” to extend the isolation period for those who test positive or have symptoms to ten days. “Evidence, although still limited, has strengthened and shows that people with Covid-19 who are mildly ill and are recovering have a low, but real possibility of infectiousness between seven and nine days after illness onset,” they said.