Anyone who develops symptoms or tests positive for Covid must immediately self-isolate.
The day symptoms begin or you test positive is day zero. The next day is day one of your isolation period.
From Monday 17th January, people who test positive will be able to leave self-isolation after a further five full days, subject to having two negative LFD results, 24 hours apart. i.e. if they test negative on both day 5 and day 6 and do not have a temperature
You can take your first test on day five (not before). If it is negative, you can take another test 24 hours later on day six. Assuming this is also negative – and you do not have a temperature – you can immediately leave isolation.
If the LFD tests between day 5 and day 9 are positive you will need to keep self isolating until day 10 as before, and only end your isolation if you do not have a temperature.
The rules apply whether you are vaccinated or not.
The guidance applies whatever your vaccination status, or whichever Covid variant you have.
However, anyone leaving self-isolation earlier than 10 days is “strongly advised” to limit close contact with people in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces.
