And we thought being double vaxxed meant something...

[jakeseven7]

If it requires Parliamentary approval some unexpected allies might join forces to defeat any new measures - isn’t covid mild enough yet??

Well our UK office was just shut (again) - government has again put in WFH directions in London so bye bye CBD vibe

 

[Telemachus]

Some further good news to note. The UK Plan B measures announced by Boris at his presser on 8 Dec include the replacement of 10 days’ isolation for Omicron close contacts with a requirement instead to take daily LFD tests. I missed this in initial media reports about the Plan B stuff but it’s now getting more attention e.g. New self-isolation rules explained: how daily Covid testing will stop isolating under Plan B.

This is the HMG intent and is not yet law.

Update. The amendment to the self-isolation regs is now law in England having come into force on 14 Dec. The 30 Nov direction for Omicron close contacts to self-isolate for 10 days has been revoked and replaced with an expectation that vaccinated close contacts of any variant should conduct (and report) daily LFD tests for 7 days (assuming no symptoms and negative test results).

The SI for this specific amendment (No.6) is here and the full SI as amended is here. The EM for the amendment is of course clearer than the SI itself in setting out not only what has changed but why:

• These changes are intended to revoke the amendments which came into force on 30 November 2021 so that all close contacts will be exempt from self-isolation providing they are fully vaccinated [….].
• As Omicron cases grow, a 10-day self-isolation rule would, without these amendments, soon become the default for all contacts, including children and those who are fully vaccinated.
• To manage the risk of transmission, contacts who are exempt from self-isolation will instead be strongly advised to take a daily Lateral Flow Test for 7 days. They will also be given advice on steps they should take to reduce the risk to others.

So that is all good - leaving just the one or two other small concerns about imminent travel to UK.