Isolation reduced to 7 days *MNHQ editing to make clear this is England-only so far*

[Jourdain11]

It's been confirmed.

BBC News - Covid: Self-isolation cut from 10 days to seven with negative test
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59749447

@Watapalava

it was 7 days for a while for the UK last year and they upped it again

Yes that's right - it was 7 days back in March 2020 when I (possibly) had it. Got changed to 10 some time later that spring.

I think it's obvious that if you're still sick, you wouldn't go back to work. But many people are well after 2 days, so in that sense, surely it is good?

Unfortunately some people do feel pressured into going back to work too soon dollybird, especially if they are struggling staff wise.

I feel like they are making it up as they go along .
I was under the impression tests could show positive for weeks after a bout of covid.
Who's monitoring these lfts anyway?

My isolation - 10 days - ends Christmas Day

I've had 2 positive PCR

all lateral flows have been negative.

@Dontforgetyourbrolly I think it’s because new evidence emerges all the time. I’ve seen quite a lot of scientist discussing the key infectious period being early on.

However like all our restrictions I think we’d have been better off with constant moderate restrictions rather than swinging from strict lockdowns to nothing.

DH was testing positive on LFT for almost two months after our isolation ended, but he was completely asymptomatic all the way through (me too, but I tested negative about day 6).

Given we've always been told that testing positive on LFT after isolation ends means you're not infectious I'm not sure how this works really.

I agree about the pressurised to go back to work thing. As it stands, people I work with have all felt they have to come back after 10 days and most have not felt well enough, negative lateral flow or not. Presenteeism is an issue in many workforces.. And there's the issue of pay of course .

I am another one who never had a positive lateral flow and I was in hospital with Covid!

No one I know has ignored SI rules when they have tested positive. Who does that!?

Interested to see how this plays out in care homes, healthcare and schools given the caveats applied.

Excellent, hopefully this eventually leads to no isolation.

Does it apply to children, because they obviously haven't been vaccinated? I would love to take DS for a run around the park with a football but don't want to if I can't.

@Idontlikeworms

Does it apply to children, because they obviously haven't been vaccinated? I would love to take DS for a run around the park with a football but don't want to if I can't.

Totally unclear still. I’d hope so but everything I’ve seen says unvaccinated still have to do 10 days

Kids an afterthought as usual

I think this is reasonable.
When DH had Covid earlier this year (extremely mildly as he'd had a horrible bout of it March 2020) he tested +LFT and PCR on day 1 and 2 and was negative on LFT by morning of day 5. DS caught it from him and had +LFT and -LFT on day 3. He was totally asymptomatic though.

@TallulahsCurse

Excellent, hopefully this eventually leads to no isolation.

Fingers crossed…!

Meanwhile in Scotland...not only is it still 10 days but its also 10 days for everyone in your household even if they have a negative pcr..sigh

@Piggyinblankets just because you were very ill doesn’t mean you necessarily were very infectious at any point. Again some papers have been suggesting for a while that some people don’t transmit much covid whereas others are superspreaders. Or it might be environmental, but it might also be related to where in your body covid attacks.

@Jourdain11

I think it's obvious that if you're still sick, you wouldn't go back to work. But many people are well after 2 days, so in that sense, surely it is good?

I agree it is good news OP! Finally some sense

Have we had a "letting it rip" comment yet?

OP you should amend your post to add that this is only for fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated people still have to isolate for the full ten days.
I’m not sure yet whether this applies to children as they are unvaccinated but usually have the same rules as vaccinated adults.

Very pleased and was hoping this would be the next thing to change

[quote Hollyhead]@Piggyinblankets just because you were very ill doesn’t mean you necessarily were very infectious at any point. Again some papers have been suggesting for a while that some people don’t transmit much covid whereas others are superspreaders. Or it might be environmental, but it might also be related to where in your body covid attacks.[/quote]
Yes, true.

@Frazzled2207 @Idontlikeworms It applies to anyone who actually has covid regardless of vaccination status, it says so in the article in the op.

@JS87

OP you should amend your post to add that this is only for fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated people still have to isolate for the full ten days. I’m not sure yet whether this applies to children as they are unvaccinated but usually have the same rules as vaccinated adults.

For both contact with a a positive case and if they test positive

[quote ColettesEarrings]**@Frazzled2207* @Idontlikeworms* It applies to anyone who actually has covid regardless of vaccination status, it says so in the article in the op.[/quote]
In other scenarios under 18s have been exempted like the adult vaccinated.
There is no actual option to vaccinate the under 12s at the moment and they have it for a shorter period of time generally so I hope there is clarity on this soon.

@Eyerollsausageroll

My 10 day isolation ends on the 27th, I'm missing my 6 year olds birthday today, if I'm negative on 23rd and 24th I can "legally" spend Xmas with my dc? I'm so hopeful, yet I'm not sure I can deal with the disappointment if I still give a positive lft.

Yes, this is the same as our family. I'm now negative on LFT as is dd but DH still positive l, fingers crossed for him and yourself.

So employers will be expecting them back after 7 days, and you can't limit contact with vulnerable people if you work with them