Do you still have to self isolate if you test positive for Covid?

Coronavirus infection rates might finally be starting to drop in Greater Manchester, but the hospitalisation rate in England is at its highest since January 2021. In the latest seven-day period, the UK has recorded almost half a million new Covid cases.

It comes as Boris Johnson said it would be “irresponsible” to rule out further lockdowns if more deadly coronavirus variants emerge. The Prime Minister continued to say he could not rule out the prospect of taking drastic action again as the nation feels the impact of the new Omicron strain.

In February, all Covid restrictions came to an end in England, meanwhile free mass symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public was stopped in April. So, what should you do if you test positive for Covid?

Read more: Boris Johnson says he cannot rule out another future lockdown

In England, it's no longer a legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive for Covid-19, however the NHS recommends that you should 'try and stay at home and away from other people to avoid passing on the virus.' The NHS advises staying home and avoiding contact with others for five days.

It also says you should avoid meeting people 'at higher risk from Covid-19' for 10 days, 'especially if their immune system means they’re at higher risk of serious illness from Covid-19, even if they’ve had a Covid-19 vaccine.' If a child or young person aged 18 or under tests positive, they should 'try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for three days,' starting from the day after they did the test.

The NHS explained: "Children and young people tend to be infectious to others for less time than adults. If they’re well and do not have a temperature after three days, there’s a much