Rules on self-isolating change today
People who are double-jabbed will no longer have to isolate if they come into contact with someone who has covid-19
From today, people who are double vaccinated will no longer have to isolate if they come into close contact with someone who has covid-19.
Instead they'll be advised to take a PCR test as soon as possible.
Those with a positive result will still need to self-isolate to protect themselves and others but, if negative, they can carry on as normal.
Over three quarters of the population have now had both of their jabs.
Dr Andrew Furber, Regional Director of Public Health England North West, has urged people not to drop their guard and carry on protecting each other: "Even with the protection that comes with vaccinations, people still need to be careful. The case rates are relatively high... they're sort of plateauing at the moment so people need to be aware of that.
"The vaccine has been fantastically effective and it has really weakened that link between infection and hospital admissions but it hasn't broken the link...so the more transmissions we get, the more case rates we get.
"We will still get people ending up in hospital, it's quite a nasty disease so people need to be aware it's not gone away."
However, those who have not had two doses of the vaccine or who have not had their second dose at least two weeks ago, will still need to isolate if they are contacts.
In a bid to make education less disruptive than the last year, the Government also plans to exempt those aged under 18 from self-isolation if they are a close contact.
The Public Health Director has urged people in the North West to carry on:
- Washing hands or use hand sanitiser regularly
- Wearing a face mask in crowded areas, such as public transport
- Keeping a distance - as you never know who may be clinically vulnerable
- Meeting others outside - as fresh air blows virus particles away – or if meeting indoors, open windows to let the fresh air in
People who are eligible for the vaccine and haven't had their first dose yet are being urged to come forward for it as well as people who are now eligible for their second dose.
Sixteen and 17-year-olds are now advised to get the first dose of the vaccine as well.