The government says that anyone who comes in contact with confirmed cases of Covid-19 must be fully vaccinated and should undergo a daily lateral flow test. This is for seven days.
Following a “significant increase in Omicron cases”, the Department for Health and Social Care stated that Tuesday’s new directive would be implemented.
Individuals who have symptoms or test positive for the disease should self-isolate for at least ten days.
However, people will not be required to self-isolate if they are negative for the coronavirus vaccine and have not displayed any symptoms.
Confirmed Covid-19 cases will send alerts via NHS Test and Trace and the NHS COVID-19 application to all contacts.
The DHSC advised that people who have been positive to lateral flow should continue their isolation and take a confirmation PCR test.
Contacts can be released from isolation if the PCR results are negative. However, they should still continue to take lateral flow tests for a period of one week.
Adults who have not been vaccinated must remain self-isolated for 10 days after coming in contact with an confirmed case.
The government says that anyone who comes in contact with confirmed cases of Covid-19 must undergo a daily lateral flow testing for seven days. A file photo showing a healthcare worker performing a lateral flow testing.
A box of seven lateral flow test kits has been recommended to people by NHS Test and Trace. They can then log the results online.
Sajid Javid, Health Secretary said that he was taking proportionate measures to minimize the effect on daily life and to help reduce Omicron’s spread.
“Vaccines are our greatest defense and I encourage anyone who is not yet vaccinated to do so.
This comes just days after Nadhim Zahawi, Education Secretary, revealed that Omicron patients are being treated at UK hospitals. He said that the coronavirus variant is a “huge step forward” in the country’s recovery.
Omicron cases increased in Britain by 50 percent yesterday. According to the UK Health Security Agency, 663 more cases were reported in Britain yesterday than the 448 that were recorded yesterday. This brings the total number of cases in the country to 1,898, though experts believe it is higher.
UK overall daily case numbers rose 26 percent to 54,073 week-on-week today. Deaths increased by 4% to 132.
As a result, Mr Zahawi painted an ominous picture about the spread and impact of the mutant strain. He said that it accounts for a third of all London-based cases.
He further confirmed that variant cases are increasing in number every two-three days, with over 1,600 officially confirmed.
But, Zahawi said that Omicron cases could be as high as 10 times the number. He also stated that vaccine booster programmes are now fighting the Omicron variant.
According to Dr Susan Hopkins (chief medical adviser of the UK Health Security Agency), there are currently cases in UK hospitals but no confirmed Omicron-linked deaths.
Experts have advised the Government that Omicron may cause up to 75,000 deaths in England within the next five years.
An infection wave is predicted, which could cause more than 2,000 hospital admissions per day, 175,000 hospital admissions, and 24,700 deaths, even in the best case scenario.
Even under the most optimistic of four scenarios modelled by experts – relating to how much Omicron might ‘escape’ vaccines and how effective booster jabs are – it’s predicted it could cause 25,000 deaths by the end of April without further social distancing restrictions.