LONDON, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Britain said on Friday it would
cut the self-isolation period for COVID-19 to 10 days from 14,
in a change which will apply to both those presumed to have been
in contact someone with the virus within the country, and those
arriving from abroad.
The shorter self-isolation period will begin from Dec. 14
and apply in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, a
government statement said. It already applies in Wales.
"After reviewing the evidence, we are now confident that we
can reduce the number of days that contacts self-isolate from 14
days to 10 days," said the United Kingdom's four Chief Medical
Officers in the statement.
Cutting the isolation time will help people return to work
and school sooner, helping the economy recovery, while
international travel should benefit from the looser rules,
helping cash-strapped airlines.
The 10-day quarantine countdown begins on the day after
exposure, a test or the start of symptoms, the statement said,
with NHS Test and Trace, the organisation responsible for
contacting people thought to have been in contact with the
virus, due to give out the new guidance on Monday.
Most major travel destinations for Britons, such as France,
Spain and the United States are not on Britain's safe travel
corridor list, meaning that those arriving from those countries
have to quarantine.
The new guidance brings the rules for potential contacts of
the virus into line with the self-isolation requirements for
those who receive a positive test.
(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Michael Holden)