U.K. Extends Self-Isolation Period to 10 Days to Quell Covid

(Bloomberg) --

The U.K. lengthened the self-isolation period for coronavirus patients to 10 days from seven as health authorities seek to prevent a renewed surge in cases of the disease.

The change in guidance was issued on Thursday by England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty and his counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and is effective immediately. It is based on evidence that there is a “low but real possibility” people are still be infectious 7-9 days after first showing symptoms, they said in a statement.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson doubled down on his warning that there’s a resurgence of coronavirus across Europe and urged the public to keep their “discipline” as ministers try to stamp out local outbreaks and ensure the level of the disease remains as low as possible. Compounding reasons for concern, the U.K. registered 846 new Covid cases Thursday, the highest daily total since June 28.

“It is absolutely vital as a country that we continue to keep our focus and our discipline and that we don’t delude ourselves that somehow we’re out of the woods or that this is all over, because it isn’t all over,” Johnson told the BBC on Thursday.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock earlier said it’s possible the U.K. will add more countries to its quarantine list in the coming days, with the government concerned about rising infections in parts of Europe. At the weekend travelers from Spain were told to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival.

“We want to do everything we possibly can to protect people here,” Hancock told the BBC. “The virus moves fast and so must we.”

If symptoms other than a cough or the loss of the sense of taste or smell persist, then patients must continue to self-isolate, even if they last longer than 10 days, according to the guidance.

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Extending the self-isolation period brings the U.K. in line with World Health Organization recommendations. While case numbers across the country are far below the numbers seen in March and April, recent local outbreaks in Leicester and Oldham, in central and northern England, show the risk of a new wave of infections.

“We want to take a precautionary approach to make sure that we can keep people in this country as a safe as possible,” Hancock said. “We can see sadly a second wave of coronavirus that is starting to roll across Europe and we want to do everything we possibly can to protect people here.”

But the government faces a balancing act as it tries to stimulate the economy while keeping Covid-19 cases down. Ministers were lambasted by airlines and tour operators following the decision to put the whole of Spain on the quarantine list, and the government’s hint that more countries will be added will do little to allay fears of further disruption.

Hancock said the government is working on using testing to cut the 14-day quarantine period for those arriving from countries which have seen spikes in cases of the virus, but ruled out any imminent change to the rules.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.