It is a legal requirement to self-isolate if you are told by NHS Test and Trace to do so.
If a person has symptoms of Covid-19, they are advised to self-isolate and take a PCR Test as soon as possible. If the test comes back as positive for Covid-19, that person must self-isolate.
Not following the guidance on self-isolation could result in a fine.
Rules on self-isolation are different in Wales and England however, and it's important to note these differences if you are travelling between both sides of the border in the next coming weeks, especially during the Christmas period.
Read more: To follow our latest coronavirus headlines, click here.
In both Wales and England, if you have any new symptoms of Covid-19, you should self-isolate and book a PCR test as soon as possible. This applies even if you have mild symptoms or if you have previously tested positive.
The main symptoms of the virus to look out for are:
- a high temperature
- a continuous cough
- loss or change of taste or smell
You should continue to isolate until you have received a positive test for Covid, you've been told to self-isolate following contact with someone who tested positive (Test and Trace), and if someone you live with has symptoms or tested positive.
However the latter rule differs in England.
In England, if you live with or have been in contact with someone with Covid-19, you will not need to self-isolate if any of the following apply:
- you're fully vaccinated – this means 14 days have passed since your final dose of a Covid-19 vaccine given by the NHS
- you're under 18 years, six months old
- you're taking part or have taken part in a Covid-19 vaccine trial
- you're not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons
In Wales however, if you are a fully vaccinated adult, or a young person aged between five and 17, self-isolation and testing requirements will depend on whether someone in your household has symptoms or has tested positive.
In this instance, 'fully vaccinated' means you have been vaccinated with a Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved Covid-19 vaccine in the UK, and at least 14 days have passed since you received the recommended doses of the vaccine.
You do not need to have received a booster vaccination to be considered fully vaccinated.
If you live or alternatively spend a significant amount of time in the same household as someone who has symptoms, you should self-isolate and take a test as quickly as possible. If that person has tested positive, you should self-isolate and should take a PCR test as quickly as possible. These rules apply even if you are a fully-vaccinated adult or a young person aged between five and 17.
If your test is negative however, you can stop isolating but you should remain vigilant for new symptoms. You should try to avoid contact with vulnerable family and friends in the short-term, for example being in contact with an elderly relative or those that are at a higher risk of contracting severe Covid infection.
However in both countries, if you are a close contact of someone, including living in the same household, who is confirmed or suspected to have the Omicron variant, you must self-isolate regardless of you vaccination status or age.
According to the Welsh Government's website and NHS England's website, contract tracers will let you know if your contact is a confirmed or suspected case of the Omicron variant.
The isolation period for contacts of an Omicron case is 10 full days. Your self-isolation period includes the day you were last in contact with the person who tested positive and the next 10 full days after that.
You may have to self-isolate for longer if you then test positive for Covid-19 while you are already isolating.
Even if these tests are negative, you must complete the isolation period. This is because if you have been infected, it can take time for symptoms to develop or to become infectious to others.
If the variant is suspected, you must isolate until it has been confirmed that the person who has tested positive does not have an Omicron variant. Once that happens Test, Trace, Protect service will contact you and advise on what to do next. This may mean you can leave self-isolation but it will depend on your age, vaccination status and nature of the contact.
To get the latest coronavirus news sent straight to your email inbox sign up for our free Covid newsletter by clicking here .
