‘Close contacts’ no longer need to self-isolate if double jabbed

Those who have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine are no longer legally required to self-isolate if identified as a close contact of a positive Covid-19 case.

The change, which came into effect on Monday 16 August, also applies to those under the age of 18, clinical trial participants (for an MHRA-approved Covid-19 vaccine trial), and those with evidence they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.

Double-jabbed individuals and under 18s who are identified as close contacts by NHS Test and Trace will be advised to take a PCR test as soon as possible to check if they have the virus and for variants of concern. People can order a PCR home test online or by calling 119, or going to a test site.

Children aged under five who are identified as close contacts are advised to take a PCR test if the positive case is in their own household.

As double-jabbed people identified as close contacts are still at risk of being infected, people are advised to consider other precautions such as wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces, and limit contact with other people, especially with anyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable. They will not be required to self-isolate while they wait for the results of the PCR test.

Double-vaccinated adults will no longer be required to self-isolate, as long as they received their final dose of an MHRA-approved vaccine in the UK vaccination programme at least 14 days prior to contact with a positive case.

Anyone who tests positive following the PCR test will still be legally required to self-isolate, irrespective of their vaccination status or age in order to break onward chains of transmission. Meanwhile anyone who develops Covid-19 symptoms should self-isolate and get a PCR test, and remain in isolation until the result comes back.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Getting two doses of a vaccine has tipped the odds in our favour and allowed us to safely reclaim our lost freedoms, and from Monday we can take another huge step back towards our normal lives by removing self-isolation requirements for double-jabbed people who are contacts of people with Covid-19. Double-jabbed people who test positive will still need to self-isolate.”

Anyone with symptoms should take a PCR test to find out if they have the virus and to allow new variants to be detected. Alongside PCR testing for anyone with symptoms or who is a close contact, everyone in England is encouraged to take up the government’s offer of free, twice-weekly rapid testing to find additional cases among people who do not have symptoms.

Removing self-isolation for under 18s comes ahead of thousands of pupils and students returning to school and college for the autumn term.

In line with step 4 of the government’s roadmap, ‘bubbles’ will end for all children under 18, social distancing will no longer be necessary, and schools will not need to stagger start and finish times.

From next Monday (23 August), all young people aged 16 and 17 in England are to be offered a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine before returning to school or college.

Tens of thousands of people in this age group have already been vaccinated at local vaccination sites and walk-in centres across the country and the drive to offer a first jab will allow those teenagers in that age bracket the two weeks necessary to build maximum immunity.

NHS England has launched a new online walk-in site finder to help 16 and 17 year olds locate the nearest available centre. Further sites will come online over the coming days and weeks.

Teenagers within three months of turning 18 can book their vaccine appointment online through the National Booking Service or by calling 119. Around 100,000 texts are being sent to those eligible inviting them to book their jabs.

Children aged 12 to 15 who are clinically vulnerable to Covid-19 or who live with adults who are at increased risk of serious illness from the virus are also being contacted by the NHS and invited for their vaccine by 23 August, ahead of the new school year.

Two on-site tests should be taken by each secondary school and college student on return, followed by twice-weekly testing at home. The government will review testing requirements by the end of September.