Double jabbed no longer required to self isolate

As of this week (16^th August) people who are double jabbed or aged under 18 will no longer be legally required to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case.

With 75% of people having received both doses of the vaccine, the majority of adults will no longer need to self-isolate if they are contacts.

The following groups of people identified as close contacts will no longer be required to self-isolate. If their self-isolation period began before 16 August and was due to end after 16 August, they will be able to leave self-isolation on 16 August:

• double-vaccinated adults: those who received their final dose of an MHRA-approved vaccine in the UK vaccination programme at least 14 days prior to contact with a positive case
• children and young people: those under the age of 18 years. Those turning 18 will be treated in the same way as children until the age of 18 years and 6 months, to allow them time to get vaccinated
• clinical trial participants: those who have taken part in – or are currently taking part in – an MHRA-approved COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial. Those who received their final dose of an MHRA-approved vaccine in the UK vaccination programme, at least 14 days prior to contact with a positive case.
• medical exemptions: those who can evidence that they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.
• as with double vaccinated adults, children under 5 who are close contacts of a positive case will instead be advised to take a PCR test. If the PCR test is positive they will need to self-isolate, as any other positive case
• children who are aged under 5 years old who are identified as close contacts would only be advised to take a PCR test if the positive case is in their own household

For more guidance, visit Gov.uk.