UK health officials have clarified that the recommended Covid self-isolation period in the US is shorter than in the UK.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) previously said the isolation period was effectively the same in both countries, but now it has issued an update.
It said the recommended minimum of six full days in the UK was counted from the onset of symptoms, while in the US, the five-day isolation began from the day of a positive test, likely several days after the first symptoms.
However, the UKHSA has updated its blog post, which now states: “In the UK our advice is to self-isolate for at least six full days from the point at which you have symptoms or get a positive test, whichever is first.”
Take a rapid #COVID19 test before you visit family and friends to help stop the virus spreading.
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) January 8, 2022
More on testing: ▶️ https://t.co/2HuzN7SxlH pic.twitter.com/gskU5YlCoq
It continued: “In the United States, the advice is to isolate for at least five full days from the same point.”
And the blog post concludes: “We believe that allowing people to leave self-isolation after two negative lateral flow tests on days six and seven is the optimal approach at present. This supports people who are unlikely to be infectious to go back to work and resume other activities, but continues to protect the wider population from infection."
The UKHSA said it made the correction after the US CDC health protection agency clarified that its isolation period started when symptoms first appeared.
The CDC cut the recommended isolation period in America to five days in December.
Boris Johnson asked for five day self-isolation changes
Boris Johnson has been facing calls from MPs and business chiefs to follow suit in the UK in order to help ease staff absences across the economy and public services.
On Monday, the Prime Minister said he would “act according to the science” on potentially reducing the time period to five days.
Meanwhile Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi is the first government minister to publicly support the reduction of the isolation period in England.
The period has already been cut from 10 days to seven, as long as the person in isolation has negative lateral flow test results, and Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said “if it is possible to go further then we will do so”.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is among ministers keen on the economic benefits of reducing the period to five days, according to the Daily Telegraph, while Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has suggested the move could help ease staffing problems.
Read more like this:
- New rules for people who test positive for Covid
- Booster jab: How to get your Covid vaccine in England
- Covid booster jab side effects for each vaccine approved in UK
The UKHSA is leading work on the issue along with the Government’s Covid taskforce based in the Cabinet Office.
On the change to its blog post, a UKHSA spokesperson said: “We updated our blog following clarification from the CDC on their isolation guidance on January 4.
“Our current guidance of releasing individuals from isolation on day seven with two negative lateral flow test results taken 24 hours apart has a low risk of an individual being released infectious – similar to the risk of being infectious after 10 days isolation.
“In the US people are asked to isolate for five full days, in the UK the advice is to isolate for six full days.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here