The gap between vaccinated and unvaccinated Brits is set to grow even further under new plans to exempt people who have received both doses of a vaccine from having to self-isolate for 10 days after coming into contact with Covid carriers. Those who are exempt will have to abide instead by a strict testing regime and will still have to isolate if a test result comes out positive.
The Health Secretary is said to be “very keen” on this approach. All that is needed, according to reports, is for Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England, to give his seal of approval. The MailOnline has more.
Britons who have received both jabs would be exempt from self-isolation for a 24-hour period after each negative test result.
Tests would be required every morning for one week if a person is told by Test and Trace that they have been near someone with the infection.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock is said to be “very keen” on the new approach which would help to lift coronavirus restrictions.
But the proposal can only go ahead after Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England, is content with the outcome of a study of 40,000 people…
Initial results from the study are predicted to come in next month and the research is set to finish by the end of this summer.
A Whitehall source told the Times: “The vaccines are extremely effective and we want to keep people safe whilst minimising interruption to their lives.
“So of course it is an attractive option if shown to be safe.”
It follows 62,000 people having to self-isolate last week after coming into contact with Covid carriers.
Another source added: “It’s obviously very appealing if it’s safe so we need to show that before we bring it in.
“Matt is very keen on it and there is a strong appetite in some corners.”
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