Many of the rules and regulations surrounding coronavirus have been changing in England, as the government begins to scrap Plan B measures in favour of less restrictive guidelines.
The announcement comes as Covid cases have begun to drop following a surge in the Omicron variant.
The self-isolation period for adults with Covid has already been slashed from seven to five days, while the legal requirement to self-isolate could be scrapped entirely by the end of March.
But what are the current rules when it comes to children self-isolating following a positive Covid test result?
How long do children need to self-isolate?
All people – including children and adults – have to isolate for a minimum of five full days after the day of a positive test.
Children can only leave self-isolation and go back to school if they have tested negative twice after the full five days.
The first full day of isolation is considered to be the day following the positive test.
Anyone who has tested positive can take two lateral flow tests on day five and day six, and if both are negative and they do not have any symptoms, they can end their self-isolation on day six.
If either test is positive, then you should continue to self-isolate until they get negative results from two LFT’s on consecutive days or until they have completed 10 full days of self-isolation – whichever comes first.
Do children need to self-isolate if they are a close contact?
No, children do not need to self-isolate if they are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for Covid, or if anyone else in your household has it.
They can continue going to school but should do tests daily. If they test positive they should isolate and follow the rules detailed above.
When could self-isolation rules end?
Boris Johnson has said the legal requirement for people with Covid-19 to self-isolate could finish on March 24.
The Prime Minister said the rule would lapse when current regulations expire, with no plans currently in place to renew it
‘As Covid becomes endemic, we will need to replace legal requirements with advice and guidance, urging people with the virus to be careful and considerate of others’ he said.
‘The self-isolation regulations expire on March 24, at which point I very much expect not to renew them. Indeed, were the data to allow, I’d like to seek a vote in this House to bring that date forward.’
It is worth noting these rule changes would only apply to England – Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own Covid-19 restrictions in place.
MORE : Will self-isolation rules be scrapped completely and when do the new rules come in?
MORE : ‘People like me are still dying every day’ Vulnerable react to end of self isolation rules
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