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England Cuts Self-Isolation Time as Worker Shortages Increase

England Cuts Self-Isolation Time as Worker Shortages Increase

People in England who test positive for Covid-19 will have to self-isolate for only seven days starting Wednesday as the U.K. government seeks to reduce rising staff shortages amid a surge in omicron infections.  

Previously a positive test required 10 days of self-isolation, a length of time blamed for rising absenteeism by businesses and providers of public services during the crucial Christmas shopping season. 

Under the new guidance in England, people who receive negative lateral flow tests on day six and day seven -- with tests taken 24 hours apart -- no longer have to isolate for the full 10 days. 

“We want to reduce the disruption from Covid-19 to people’s everyday lives,” Health Secretary Sajid Javid said in a statement. 

The U.K. Health and Security Agency said a seven-day isolation period and two negative rapid tests provides nearly the same protective effect as the longer period. The agency has previously said that lateral flow tests are just as sensitive at detecting the omicron variant as they are for the delta strain. 

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