From Monday 17 January, people who have tested positive for Covid-19 can end their isolation after five full days if they test negative on a lateral flow test on days five and six and do not have a temperature.

The new guidance for isolating states that the first test must be taken no earlier than day five of the self-isolation period, and the second must be taken the following day, two negative tests are needed on two consecutive days.

If an individual is positive on day five, then a negative test is required on day six and day seven to be released from isolation. This continues until the tenth day, which is the default end date for isolation.