Isolation for positive cases is cut from 10 to seven days releasing up to 280,000 to enjoy Christmas

More than 280,000 people infected with coronavirus and facing Christmas alone can now safely enjoy festivities with their families after a change in isolation rules.

Health chiefs have today announced those who test positive for Covid can be released after seven days, rather than 10, providing they take two lateral flow tests at the end of that period.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said infected patients can take the tests 24 hours apart on day six and seven of their isolation period, which if negative means they can stop quarantining.

This means the 102,875 people who tested positive on December 15, the 95,058 positive cases the following day, and a further 82,945 people who contracted the virus on December 17, will be free to enjoy Christmas together with loved ones under the new rules.

It has also been hailed as a major boost to the NHS, with Health Secretary Sajid Javid reportedly among those concerned at the number of staff who’ve been off work with the virus under the 10-day rule. 

However, unvaccinated adults who have come into contact with someone infected with Covid must still self-isolate until 10 days after their estimated date of exposure to the virus. 

The UKHSA said people who leave self-isolation on day seven are strongly advised to limit close contact with other people in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, and to continue working from home.

This comes after analysis by the UKHSA suggested that a seven-day isolation period alongside two negative lateral flow test results had nearly the same protective effect as a 10-day isolation period without testing.

Studies have also demonstrated that lateral flow device (LFD) tests are just as sensitive at detecting the Omicron variant as they are for Delta.

At the end of last week, some 4,700 NHS staff in London were off work – up 140 per cent on the previous seven days, according to the Telegraph. 

It meant, if the trend continued, one third of all workers in the NHS would be absent by New Year’s Day.

In response, the British Medical Association has called for restrictions on indoor gatherings, which it claims would reduce pressure on the health service.  

A senior government source told the Telegraph: ‘This balanced and proportionate measure based on the advice of our expert clinical advisers will help reduce the disruption caused by Covid – including in the NHS where we are seeing some strain caused by staff absences.’

Similarly, there are fears over how many police officers will be on sick leave in the run-up to Christmas after absences increased by a fifth in one week. 

As a result, chief constables have considered making vaccinations mandatory, but have instead chosen to step up an information drive for the minority who haven’t had a jab. 

A National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) meeting heard there was an expectation that absenteeism would increase over coming weeks ‘as the Omicron infection wave spreads’, the Times reports.

 UKHSA chief executive Dr Jenny Harries said anyone with coronavirus symptoms should still get a PCR test as soon as possible.

She said: ‘Covid-19 is spreading quickly among the population and the pace at which Omicron is transmitting may pose a risk to running our critical public services during winter.

‘This new guidance will help break chains of transmission and minimise the impact on lives and livelihoods.

‘It is crucial that people carry out their LFD tests as the new guidance states and continue to follow public health advice.’ 

Speaking to BBC News, Health Secretary Sajid Javid described the decision to reduce the self-isolation period from 10 to seven days with two negative lateral flow tests as a ‘sensible way forward’.

He told the broadcaster: ‘We want to reduce the disruption to people’s everyday lives caused by the pandemic. So today we will be cutting the self-isolation period from 10 days to 7 days for those people that take a lateral flow test on day six and day seven and the result of both those tests are negative.

‘This decision has been informed by the advice from our clinicians at the UK Health Security Agency who have looked at this very carefully and they are very comfortable that the protection that is provided by making this change … is very similar to 10 days of isolation without tests.’

Mr Javid continued: ‘Of course, anyone who leaves after day seven under this new procedure, they should continue to remain cautious but we are also very clear that the best way to protect ourselves, our loved ones, our community, is to make sure you get boosted if you are eligible.

‘I think this is a very sensible, balanced and proportionate take. Of course this new variant is spreading very rapidly, it is disrupting many people’s lives. It is great that when people do get infected that they are properly isolating, I think that clearly helps prevent infection.

‘But it is important also to look at how we can have policies that can help to minimise that and this step, again informed by our clinicians, is a very sensible way forward.’