Isolating after receiving a positive coronavirus test is not a legal requirement in Northern Ireland.
The confirmation comes on the same day that all restriction were changed from being legally binding to encouraged guidance.
A spokesperson for the Department for Health confirmed that self-isolating when positive "is guidance".
Announcing the removal of all legal requirements for coronavirus rules, Minister Swann said emergency restrictions cannot be maintained indefinitely.
He added: "Coronavirus is likely to stay with us in some form for some time. We cannot maintain emergency restrictions indefinitely. A large part of what we currently do to protect ourselves is already covered by guidance rather than regulations.
"This includes self-isolating when infected and taking lateral flow tests before meeting up with others. The guidance will continue to emphasise all the steps that we should keep taking to protect each other.
"I will, of course, keep the situation on regulations under ongoing and detailed review. We cannot rule out a new variant emerging down the line with new interventions being required. I very much hope that will not be the case."
The lifting of restrictions in Northern Ireland should not be viewed as “freedom day”, Stormont’s chief scientific adviser said today.
Professor Ian Young urged people to continue to wear face masks in certain public settings, even though it will no longer be a legal requirement.
“I think all of us look on today as a little bit of a milestone, certainly in terms of the removal of regulation," Prof Young said.
“The two years have been incredibly difficult for society, for the economy, for all of our colleagues who have been working in the health and social care system at the front line, and for patients and families, many of whom have made considerable sacrifices.
“I think we absolutely welcome the fact that ministers have decided to remove restrictions. But that does not mean that the epidemic is over."
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