The Welsh Government has announced that people who have tested positive for coronavirus will only have to self-isolate for seven days.

The self-isolation period will be reduced from 10 to seven days, on the basis of two negative lateral flow tests taken on days six and seven, from tomorrow (Friday, December 31).

First Minister Mark Drakeford said the coronavirus situation has deteriorated in the last week as the omicron wave has arrived.

"We are bringing the change forward because the balance of harms has changed and the rising number of cases has begun to have an impact on the number of people, in critical jobs, who are excluded from the workplace because of self-isolation."

People who have tested positive for Covid-19 must self-isolate for seven days. A person who is not fully vaccinated is legally required to self-isolate as a close contact to someone who has tested positive.

Coronavirus latest in Wales

  • Cases are highest among 20 to 29-year-olds and 30 to 39-year-olds.
  • Case rates are starting to increase in the older age groups.
  • Hospitalisations remain lower than in previous waves, but these too are starting to increase.

The First Minister added: "The Cabinet will continue to review the position in Wales on a weekly basis, as we see the omicron variant take hold across Wales.

"Given the seriousness of the threat the virus poses, it remains vitally important that each one of us continues to take all those simple precautions which will help to slow down the spread of the virus and the risks it poses to all of us."

Mr Drakeford said the majority of coronavirus cases are likely to be caused by the omicron variant and that the public health situation remains "very volatile".

What is self-isolation?

 

Self-isolation means a person not leaving their home because they have or might have Covid-19.

People are legally required to self-isolate if the NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect service tells them to. If they do not, they are committing an offence and could get a fixed penalty notice of up to £1,920 or be prosecuted in court, which can lead to an unlimited fine.