Covid isolation period for fully vaccinated cut from 7 days to 5, health secretary confirms

The self-isolation period for fully vaccinated people in England has been reduced from seven days to five, the health secretary has confirmed.

Sajid Javid revealed the move in a Commons statement to MPs today, citing data from the UK Health Security Agency and saying: “Two-thirds of positive cases are no longer infectious by the end of day five.”

From Monday, January 17th, people will be able to leave isolation if they test negative on days five and six. 

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Javid said: “These two tests are critical to these balanced and proportionate plans, and I’d urge everyone to take advantage of the capacity we have built up in tests so we can restore the freedoms to this country while we’re keeping everyone safe.”

At the moment, fully vaccinated people who test positive can end their isolation period if they receive a negative lateral flow test on days six and seven – with the tests taken twenty-four hours apart.

The current guidance is for people to isolate from the point at which they developed symptoms or received a positive test.

If they still test positive, they have to remain in isolation for the full ten days.

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Earlier this week, Boris Johnson discussed the possibility of reducing the isolation period, telling Sky News that while the government would still follow the scientific advice.

When asked if he sees the benefits of reducing the quarantine period, Johnson said: “Yes of course, we are looking at that and we will act accordingly to the science as we always have.”