Council leaders cautiously welcome changes to Covid-19 self-isolation rules

Blackburn with Darwen Council leaders have cautiously welcomed changes to Coronavirus self-isolation rules now confirmed by Government. 

Under the new rules, from Monday August 16th, people with are double jabbed and under-18s will no longer have to self-isolate if they have come into contact with a positive Covid-19 case.

All individuals identified as contacts of a positive case by NHS Test and Trace will instead be advised to take a PCR test as soon as possible.

PCR home tests are available online or by calling 119, or by going to a local test site. Locations are listed here.

The Government has also confirmed that double-jabbed people and under 18s will not be expected to isolate while they await the results of the test.

The new rules apply to those having their second dose at least 14 days before coming into contact with someone testing positive for the virus.

People testing positive for the virus will still legally be required to self-isolate, irrespective of their vaccination status.

Anyone who develops Covid-19 symptoms should self-isolate and get a PCR test and remain in isolation until the result comes back.

Financial support is still available locally for eligible people told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace. Find out more here.

It’s also now more important than ever to make sure you’re fully vaccinated. There are several sites across Blackburn with Darwen where anyone over the age of 18 can get vaccinated – and walk-ins are welcome. Find out more here.

Council Leader Mohamed Khan, Sayyed Osman Director of Adult Services, Health and Strategic Commissioning People and Director of Public Health Dominic Harrison said:

We know how hard our communities have worked right throughout the pandemic to stay in employment and keep businesses running, as we ourselves have to keep services running as best as possible and keep our community safe.

As we have seen nationally, the higher numbers of confirmed cases over the last months has resulted in more close contacts being required to self-isolate, which is placing extra pressure on individuals and businesses.

We therefore cautiously welcome this Government announcement that means that, with some additional precautions for health and care settings, fully vaccinated people identified as contacts of a positive case by NHS Test and Trace will be able to attend work and be freer to mix with others if they do not have symptoms.

But we do so with that note of caution – the health and wellbeing of our communities remains our top priority as restrictions ease and life returns closer to normal. Please follow these new rules closely, if you are fully vaccinated get a PCR test if you are contacted by NHS Test and Trace as soon as possible.

If you find yourself in this position, consider also taking extra precautions such as wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces and limiting contact with other people, especially with anyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable. Even if you’re double jabbed you’re still at risk of infection. And with these changes it’s now more important than ever that people get both doses of the Covid vaccine to ensure they’re fully protected.  There are opportunities to do so open across the borough right now.

Covid hasn’t gone away and the pandemic is not yet over, so we need to continue to move forward together with caution doing all we can to keep ourselves and each other safe.