Changes to Covid Self-Isolation and the SSP Rebate Scheme

It has been announced that people who have tested positive with Covid will be able to stop self-isolating after 7 days instead of 10 if they provide a negative lateral flow result on day 6 and 7.  This is the case regardless of whether an individual is vaccinated or non-vaccinated.  The isolation guidance remains the same for close contacts who are not double vaccinated, and they will need to continue to isolate for 10 days if they are a close contact of a positive case.  Double vaccinated individuals can continue to take a lateral flow test for 7 days if they have been in close contact without the need to isolate unless they get symptoms or a positive test.

Ending Isolation

People should not end their isolation early if they are still experiencing symptoms.  Those who end isolation are strongly advised to limit contact with vulnerable people, not visit crowded or poorly ventilated spaces and work from home where possible.

What are the new rules?

If an individual tests negative on a lateral flow on both day 6 and 7, isolation can be ended.

If they test positive on a lateral flow on day 6 or 7 they will be able to end their isolation after the second negative test taken on day 8, 9 or 10 of the isolation period.  If they continue to test positive, they will be able to end isolation after the usual day 10.

People will be encouraged to report their lateral flow results to the government, but this will not be required to leave isolation.

Further Information

The Government has said the new rules are guidance and a change to the legal regulations will be published when Parliament returns from Christmas recess.

The Government has confirmed it will regard the new rules as a ‘reasonable excuse’ under current laws to end isolation early.

The official updated guidance can be found This can be found HERE

SSP Rebate Scheme

The SSP rebate scheme for Covid illness which ended as of 30^th September 2020 is now being reintroduced from mid-January 2022.

What does this mean?

You will be able to claim back up to 2 weeks of SSP for covid related absence.  The guidance has not yet been updated to confirm the period from when claims can be begin but when it is updated it will be HERE.