From Tuesday 14th December, people who are fully vaccinated and identified as a contact of someone with COVID-19 – whether Omicron or not – are not required to isolate, but instead, should take an NHS rapid lateral flow test every day for 7 days to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Daily rapid testing applies to all contacts who are:
- fully vaccinated adults – people who have had 2 jabs
- all children aged 5 to 18 years and 6 months, regardless of their vaccination status. Under 5s are exempt from daily rapid lateral flow testing
- people who can prove they are unable to be vaccinated for clinical reasons
- people taking part, or have taken part, in an approved clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine
Anyone whose rapid test subsequently comes back positive or who develops COVID-19 symptoms should self-isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test to verify the result. If the PCR result comes back positive, they must self-isolate for 10 days from the day they took the positive rapid test or developed symptoms. They do not need to continue taking rapid tests during that 10 day isolation period. If the PCR result comes back negative, contacts can leave self-isolation but should continue to take rapid tests for the remainder of the 7 days.
Anyone identified as a contact but with a negative rapid lateral flow result is strongly advised to limit close contact with other people outside their household, especially in crowded or enclosed spaces and with anyone who is more vulnerable. They should also follow government guidance on wearing a face covering and working from home where possible.
People will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace by phone, email or text or they will receive a notification from the NHS COVID-19 app to tell them they are a contact of someone who tested positive and what action they need to take.They will be advised to get a box of 7 lateral flow tests free of charge from NHS Test and Trace either through pharmacies or home delivery by ordering online.
To order Lateral Flow Device tests to be delivered to your home address, please click the link and then, ‘Start Now’. https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests
Should your child display COVID symptoms please contact https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 or call 111 for further advice.