The self-isolation period in Wales is to be cut to a minimum of five full days, the Welsh Government has said. The new rules mean people will be able to end their isolation as long as they have two negative lateral flow tests on days five and six, APA reports citing The Guardian.
Health minister Eluned Morgan confirmed the changes would come into force from Friday 28 January 28, the same day the country is expected to complete the move to alert level zero. PA Media note that it will bring the nation in line with the measures in place in England and Northern Ireland.
Morgan said: “After carefully reviewing all the available evidence, we believe that testing on days five and six together with five full days of isolation will have the same protective effect as a 10-day isolation period.
“But it is really important everyone self-isolates and uses lateral flow tests in the way advised to ensure they protect others from the risk of infection.”
The minister said that while isolation was important to prevent transmission of the virus, long periods of isolation could “have a negative impact on our mental health and can be damaging for our public services and the wider economy”.
Those who test positive on either day five or day six will still have to continue to self-isolate until they have two negative tests taken 24 hours apart or until day 10, whichever comes first.
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