People across the UK have to self-isolate for ten days if they show symptoms of Covid-19 to prevent transmission of the virus amid fears of a second wave of infections.
Confirmation that the length of time is to increase came in a joint statement from the UK’s four Chief Medical Officers.
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, England’s deputy chief medical officer, told reporters the change was being made due to the “low but real possibility of infectiousness” between seven and ten days after the onset of the illness.
The chief medical officers, including Scotland's Dr Gregor Smith, emphasised the measure will provide additional community protection later in the year.
They stated: "This is particularly important to protect those who have been shielding and in advance of the autumn and winter when we may see increased community transmission."
People showing the main symptoms, such as a new continuous cough, high temperature or loss of taste or smell, will now have to self-isolate at home for ten days.
People living in the same household will have to self-isolate for 14 days.
The move comes as government ministers try to avoid a second outbreak of the virus in the UK with local spikes reported in places like Inverclyde and Oldham.
Matt Hancock, the UK Health Secretary, earlier warned that a new spike in Covid-19 cases is “clearly” beginning to emerge in Europe as he said “we’ve got to do everything” to prevent it reaching the UK.
He said: “I am worried about a second wave. I think you can see a second wave starting to roll across Europe and we’ve got to do everything we can to prevent it from reaching these shores and to tackle it.”
Hancock added that the 10-day isolation measure was “part of that, but so too are the measures we’re taking, for instance, to ensure that we don’t directly bring cases back to this country where there’s a big spike in cases'.
Scientists at Cambridge University have said it is “very likely” that most regions in England are close to the point at which the virus begins to spread exponentially.
