Covid self-isolation period to be cut to five days in Wales, Welsh Government confirms
People in Wales who test positive for Covid-19 will be able to leave isolation after five full days if they provide two negative lateral flow tests, the Welsh Government has confirmed.
Positive cases will have to complete two negative lateral flow tests - on days five and six of the isolation period - before they can leave.
Health Minister Eluned Morgan said the changes will come into effect from Friday, when Wales is expected to complete the move to Alert Level Zero.
The changes bring Wales into line with other parts of the UK and were made after "thorough examination" of evidence from Public Health Wales, the Government said.
'Self-isolating for long periods can have a negative impact on our mental health'
Ms Morgan said: "Self-isolation is one of the most effective ways of preventing the onward spread of this virus and disrupting its transmission.
"But self-isolating for long periods can have a negative impact on our mental health and can be damaging for our public services and the wider economy.
"After carefully reviewing all the available evidence, we believe that testing on days five and six together with five full days of isolation will have the same protective effect as a 10-day isolation period.
"But it is really important everyone self-isolates and uses lateral flow tests in the way advised to ensure they protect others from the risk of infection."
Anyone who tests positive on either day five or six must continue to self-isolate, the Government said, until they have two negative tests taken 24 hours apart or continue isolating until day ten - whichever comes first.
Financial support through the Self-Isolation Support Scheme will still be available but will return to an offer of £500 reduced from £750 in recognition of the shorter isolation period.
Welsh Conservative and Shadow Health Minister Russell George MS said “the time for cutting the self-isolation has undoubtedly come."
He added: “Sadly, as has been the case throughout the pandemic with the Labour administration in Cardiff Bay, they replicate decisions taken by the UK Conservative Government but only after playing politics, questioning and undermining such changes days earlier."
The Federation of Small Businesses Wales Policy Chair, Ben Francis, said the change will make a "clear difference" to thousands of businesses who have faced serious staff shortages.
He added: "While small businesses in Wales are still facing a challenging horizon, we are pleased to see that the Welsh Government is balancing the health needs of the nation with the needs of business and workers.”