COVID-19: Those who are double-bitten or who are under the age of 18 will no longer have to isolate themselves if they are in contact with a positive COVID case from August 16 | UK News

Those who have received two doses of vaccination will no longer have to isolate themselves if they come into contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 from August 16.

Making an announcement in the House of Commons on changes to the government’s self-isolation policy, the new Health Secretary Sajid Javid also confirmed that the self-isolation rules for those under 18 would end on the same date.

Individuals must allow two weeks to pass after having their second jab before they can be exempted from self-isolation, Mr Javid added.

At present, those identified as close contact of a person who tested positive for coronavirus will receive an alert from the Test and Trace application or a phone call from a tracer telling them to self-isolate for 10 days.

For those who have only received one vaccine or those who have not been vaccinated, the obligation to self-isolate after coming into contact with an infected person will remain in place.

And if a person who has had two injections tests positive for the coronavirus, they will still need to self-isolate during the ten-day period.

Mr Javid told MPs that “the odds have changed in our favor” due to the successful rollout of vaccination which will allow the government to make the self-isolation system more flexible next month.

“From August 16, when even more people benefit from the protection of both doses and when modeling suggests the risks of the virus will be even lower, anyone in close contact with a positive case will no longer have to worry. self-isolate if they have been fully vaccinated, ”he said.

“If someone gets their second dose just before or right after August 16, they will have to wait two weeks – after which their second vaccine can take effect and give them these new freedoms.”