The Government has confirmed that those who are fully vaccinated with the Covid jab will no longer need to self-isolate if they come into contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.
This will go ahead from Monday, August 16, meaning anyone fully vaccinated will only need to quarantine if they test positive for Covid themselves.
This also applies to those 18 and under, who will not need to legally self isolate from Monday if coming into close contact with someone with the virus.
In the confirmation of the change in rules, the Government said: “Getting two doses of a vaccine has tipped the odds in our favour and allowed us to safely reclaim our lost freedoms”.
The release on Monday of the legal requirement will come after the ‘ping-demic’ where millions of people were alerted by the NHS Track and Trace app to self-isolate.
It has been recorded that more than 5 million alerts have been sent by the app across England telling people they need to self-isolate.
What are the rules for those who are double-jabbed from Monday?
1. Quarantining with symtoms
Anyone who tests positive for the virus will still need to legally quarantine until their symptoms improve and after they have tested negative for Covid.
2. Taking PCR Tests
Everyone will still be advised to take PCR tests if they have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.
This is to check they do not have the virus themselves, as the vaccination is not 100% effective.
This includes health care workers, if they test negative through a PCR test they can return to work and will still need to take lateral flow tests for 10 days.
3. Self-isolating after August 16
Anyone who was alerted to self-isolate before August 16 and their quarantine days ends after August 16 can leave isolation from Monday.
4. Second jab 14 days before August 16
The new rules only apply to those who have had their second vaccination within 14 days before August 16.
Anyone who has had their second vaccine below 14 days before August 16 will still need to self-isolate if they come into contact with someone who has tested positive.
After 14 days after receiving the second vaccination, they can follow the new rules or not needing to self-isolate.
5. Advised to wear masks and be cautious
Everyone is still advised to wear masks in busy or enclosed areas, particularly to those who have come into contact with someone who has tested positive.
And those coming into close contact with someone who tested positive are encouraged to “limit contact with other people” as the Government explained.
6. NHS Track and Trace system
People will still be contacted by the NHS Track and Trace system if they have come in contact with someone who has tested positive but will instead be asked to take a PCR test, rather than to isolate.
7. NHS Covid app
The NHS Covid app will be able to prove if people have been double vaccinated or if they are under 18 years.
Anyone who has not had two doses or a full vaccination course will still have to self-isolate.
The self-isolation rules have helped maintain and control the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking about this Health Secretary, Sajid Javid said: “Asking the close contacts of people with COVID-19 to self-isolate has played a critical role in helping us get this virus under control, and millions of people across the UK have made enormous sacrifices by doing this.
"Every single one of these sacrifices has helped us protect the NHS and save lives.
With more than 75% of adults in the UK double-jabbed, the rules have enabled the rules to change to allow people to stop self-isolating when pinged by the app.
Adding about Monday’s lifting Javid said: “Getting two doses of a vaccine has tipped the odds in our favor 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."
