Self-isolation rules have been altered in England, meaning that people that test negative for COVID-19 by lateral flow on day 6 and 7 of isolation will be able to return to life as normal and no longer have to isolate for the full ten days.
The news is likely to be welcomed by businesses, with many already missing vast numbers of staff due to the rapid spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
There have been concerns of staff shortages in the emergency services over the festive period, with the NHS reporting large numbers of staff absences in some parts of the United Kingdom due to high levels of COVID-19 in the community at present.
At the start of the pandemic, the COVID-19 self-isolation policy was for anyone testing positive to remain in isolation for 14 days, but this was reduced to ten days when the Alpha and Delta variants began to rapidly spread.
The news comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the public on Tuesday (21st December) that no further COVID-19 restrictions would come into force in England before Christmas due to a lack of data at present on the Omicron variant and its affect on hospitalisations. The Prime Minister did however warn that further restrictions were possible after Christmas and that the public should remain cautious when meeting up with family and friends over the festive period.
