You can now take daily lateral flow tests rather than self-isolate if you are the contact of a person with COVID -19 and you are fully vaccinated or under 18 years and 6 months

What is a contact?

You are a contact of someone who has possible or confirmed COVID-19 if: 

• You live in the same household as another person who has COVID-19 symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19 
• You have been notified by NHS Test and Trace that you are a contact of person who has had a positive test result. 

What has changed? 

• If you are fully vaccinated or are under the aged of 18 years and 6 months you are not legally required to self-isolate, but you are strongly advised to take a lateral flow test every day for 7 days and to self-isolate and arrange to have a PCR test if any of these test results are positive. 
• If you are aged 18 years and 6 months or over and not fully vaccinated, you are legally required to stay at home and self-isolate 
• Fully vaccinated means that you are 14 days after having received two doses of an approved vaccine (Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna). 
• Read more on GOV.UK if you share a household with someone who has symptoms or who has tested positive or if you are a contact of someone outside of your household.

Why has this changed? 

• You can still carry and pass on COVID-19 if you are vaccinated. 
• Lateral flow tests are very good at detecting the virus even if you have no symptoms 
• The high levels of Omicron we are seeing and its faster spread mean that the chances of you carrying the virus if you are a contact are higher than they were before 
• Taking a lateral flow test means that the virus is picked up faster and the risk of spread is lower if you self-isolate when positive. 

How do I get a lateral flow test? 

• Order online through the national website, collect a test kit from your local pharmacy or go to one of our local testing sites.