COVID-19 – Testing & Isolation Guidance – Jan 22
Link to all Government updates:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannotdo#what-has-changed
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-homeguidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection
Government Update Date: December 2021 and January 2022
The government has introduced some further requirements relating to testing and isolation, which is detailed below.
Key Protection Measures
The government has issued the following guidance that everyone is still advised to follow:
- Get tested when you have symptoms with targeted asymptomatic testing to help people manage their personal risk.
- Continue to follow isolation requirements when positive or when contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
- Wear face coverings that cover both the mouth and nose when instructed to do so.
- Maintain ventilation by ensuring that windows are kept open within rooms for a minimum of 10 minutes.
- Book in for your vaccine and booster when invited to do so.
Updated Requirements
Self-Isolation:
• Anyone aged 18 years 6 months or over and not fully vaccinated, and who lives in the same household as someone with COVID-19, are legally required to stay at home and self-isolate.
• Anyone who is fully vaccinated or aged under 18 years and 6 months, and lives in the same household as someone with COVID-19, are not legally required to self-isolate. However, there are strongly advised to take an LFD test every day for 7 days, and to self-isolate if any of these test results is positive.
• You may be able to end your self-isolation period before the end of the 10 full days. You can take a daily LFD test from the sixth day of your isolation period, and another LFD test on the following day. The second LFD test should be taken at least 24 hours later. If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, you may end your self-isolation after the second negative test result. You should not take an LFD test before the sixth day of your isolation period, and you should only end your self-isolation following 2 consecutive negative LFD tests which should be taken at least 24 hours apart.
Testing:
- Continue to book and take PCR tests if you present any symptoms.
- Take lateral flow tests if you are asymptomatic and this is recommended to be done on a regular basis (at least twice weekly).
- It advised to take lateral flow tests as late as possible before attending any events, ideally within 12 hours, as this is believed to provide more accurate results.
- From 11th January, a confirmatory PCR test will no longer be needed if a lateral flow test comes back with a positive result.
- Make sure that you report the results of any tests, as this aids in the Track and Trace programme.
Travel:
The new rules apply to fully vaccinated passengers (two doses) and under-18s, who no longer need to take a pre-departure test two days before travelling.
- From 9th January, on arrival back to the UK, passengers will be able to take a cheaper lateral flow test (LFT) instead of a PCR test and will not need to self-isolate whilst waiting for the results.
- The tests must be bought from a private test provider – free NHS tests cannot be used.Date: 9th January 2022