Speaking to MP’s yesterday, Health Secretary Sajid Javid revealed fully vaccinated UK residents won’t have to self-isolate if they come into close contact with a COVID infected person.
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Under 18s will also be allowed to skip self-isolation
Javid continued to announce that soon, fully vaccinated Brits will be able to approach isolation rules differently, with changes commencing on the 16th of August.
The Health Secretary also added that because under 18s are not yet eligible for vaccination, they too will no longer have to isolatethemselves so that they don’t miss out on ‘life experiences.’
Anyone who's a close contact of a positive case will no longer have to self-isolate if they have been fully vaccinated.
Javid continued to explain that to qualify for the exemption; second doses will have to be administered at least two weeks prior to contact with a COVID positive person:
If someone gets their second dose just before or just after the 16th, they'll need to wait two weeks after which the second job can take effect, and give them these new freedoms.
The easing of COVID restrictions has some people concerned
Sajid continued to acknowledge that while the easing of COVID measures may seem concerning to some due to the current threat of the Delta variant and the expected increase of cases over the winter, ‘we must balance the risks’ against extending the restrictions and its effects on people’s mental and financial health.
This pandemic is far from over, and we will continue to proceed with caution. But we're increasingly confident that our plan is working and that we can soon begin a new chapter based on the foundations of personal responsibility and common sense rather than the blunt instrument of rules and regulations.
Currently, anyone who has come into contact with a COVID positive person must, by law, self-isolate for at least ten days. And, while the proposed changes may see double jabbed residents skip isolation, those who test positive for the virus will still need to self-isolate for ten days and undertake a rapid test for each day regardless of vaccination status.
