Self-isolation is cut to five full days from TODAY

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Boris Johnson’s government’s long-outdated coronavirus isolation rules have finally been lifted today – weeks after staff shortages brought on by them hit the economy and essential services.

From this morning people in England can end their quarantine after five full days in a move hailed as restoring ‘extra freedoms’.

It comes as a Cabinet minister struck an optimistic note by saying the signs for lifting restrictions later this month are ‘encouraging’.

And it coincides with the Prime Minister trying to restore his popularity after a series of lockdown scandals that have led to wide calls for his resignation.

In a change to self-isolation guidance from Monday, people can leave quarantine after five full days, so long as they test negative on days five and six.

Ministers had been under pressure to reduce the isolation period – which was previously seven days – to help address staff shortages across the economy and public services by allowing people to return to work earlier.

The Government said research showed that between 20% and 30% of people are still infectious by day six, but the percentage of those released while infectious falls to around 7% if people have two consecutive negative tests and then leave isolation from day six.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: ‘Following a robust review of the evidence, we have reduced the minimum self-isolation period to five full days in England.

Source: Dailymail

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