MAJOR Covid rule changes have come in today for Brits in a major boost for struggling businesses.

People in England who test positive for the virus can now leave isolation after five full days after daily cases more than halved in a fortnight.

The rule change was confirmed by the Health Secretary last week – after experts had called for isolation to be slashed while the NHS struggles with mass staff absences.

Fresh research suggested slashing isolation to five days would only result in an extra two in 100 people leaving quarantine while still infectious.

Key UK Health Security Agency modelling probed the risk of a positive case spreading the virus after two negative lateral flow tests.

It found eight per cent would still be infectious on day five, compared to 6.2 per cent on day seven – which led ministers to change their minds.

It follows a string of hugely positive studies which showed that Omicron is milder than other strains in the vaccinated, with the first official UK report revealing the risk of hospitalisation is 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.

Covid booster jabs protect against Omicron and offer the best chance to get through the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.

The Sun's Jabs Army campaign is helping get the vital extra vaccines in Brits' arms to ward off the need for any new restrictions.

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Health and Social Care 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.

“This is a balanced and proportionate approach to restore extra freedoms and reduce the pressure on essential public services over the winter.

“It is crucial people only stop self-isolating after two negative tests to ensure you are not infectious.

“Vaccinations remain our best defence against COVID-19, offering significant protection against infection and hospitalisation – and I urge everybody eligible to take up the offer and Get Boosted Now.”

It comes after the latest figures revealed a total of 81,713 fresh infections in the latest 24-hour period, compared to a staggering 179,637 two weeks ago.

A further 287 virus deaths were also recorded yesterday – down on last week's 313.

January 15 was the second consecutive day that infections dropped below 100,000 after weeks of record breaking figures.

Cases dipped to 99,652 on January 14 before falling further yesterday in a promising sign the country is moving past the Omicron peak.

And in further positive news, coronavirus cases are now falling in every region in England as the crucial R rate has stabilised, new data has revealed.

The last time figures were below 100,000 before January 14 was December 21, which saw 90,629 cases.

What is changing?

From today isolation rules are different, going down to five full days.

But a confusing detail in the new rules means anyone isolating will actually have to do so for six, not five, days.

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This is because the first full day of isolation is NOT the day you test positive or noticed symptoms – although you must still isolate following either of these events.

That day is now known as "day zero", with the next day counting as day one, the UK Health Security Agency confirmed.

Covid patients must then test negative on lateral flow tests on day five and six in order to be released from isolation.

An example timeline is as follows:

Monday = Day 0 (when you develop symptoms or get a positive test)

Tuesday = Day 1

Wednesday = Day 2

Thursday = Day 3 

Friday = Day 4  

Saturday = Day 5 – first lateral flow test

Sunday = Day 6 – second lateral flow test and if both are negative you can leave isolation

New rules from Monday:

RULES FOR PEOPLE WITH SYMPTOMS

Isolation starts from the day of your first symptoms.

You must remain in isolation for five full days, and can leave after negative lateral flows on days five and six.

So, if you noticed symptoms on Monday morning, which counts as day zero – regardless of when you then tested positive – you can take your first lateral flow test on Saturday (day five). It means you could be free from isolation on Sunday morning after a second negative lateral flow test.

But if you continue to test positive, you must still remain in isolation until you have a negative test.

RULES FOR PEOPLE WITH NO SYMPTOMS

Isolation starts from the day of your first positive lateral flow test.

You must remain in isolation for five full days, and can leave after negative lateral flows on days five and six.

For example, if you test positive on Monday morning at 11am, which counts as day zero, you must wait until Saturday (day five) to do your first test and see if you are negative. It means you could be free from isolation on Sunday morning after a second negative lateral flow test.

But if you continue to test positive, you must still remain in isolation until you have a negative test.

The default self-isolation period continues to be 10 days, the new guidance offers you a chance to leave before then if you are not infectious.

You may only leave self-isolation early if you have taken two LFTs and do not have a temperature.

For example, if an individual is positive on day five, then a negative test is required on both day six and day seven to release from self-isolation. Or if a person is positive on day six, then a negative test is required on days seven and eight, and so on until the end of day 10.

Those who leave self-isolation on or after day six should consider wearing face coverings and limiting close contact with other people in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, work from home if they can do so and minimise contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness. 

Omicron is now the dominant strain in the UK and most people testing positive with the variant suffer with cold like symptoms.

People in England no longer have to do a follow up PCR if they don't have symptoms and test positive on a lateral flow.

Anyone who tests positive on a lateral flow must log their results and isolate for the appropriate number of days.

If they do have symptoms, they still must take a PCR follow-up, regardless of the LTF result.

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