Posted: Fri 15th Jan 2021

Reminder self isolation is ‘not a request but a requirement’ as Welsh Government explore new methods to ‘release’ people early from 10 day period

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area
This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 15th, 2021

Lateral flow tests could be used to release people early from the 10 day mandatory self isolation periods, and use of hotels could be looked at to help those living in densely populated or higher risk environments to isolate more safely.

This week saw the release of the latest University College London social study (results PDF) that looks at compliance across the UK on a range of coronavirus measures, and various findings based off demographics and other information.

The study looks at other questions, including if people get a test once they have symptoms. The study found 33% said that they had requested a test every time they developed symptoms, but 10% said they had only requested a test on some occasions but not others, and 57% said they had never requested a test even though they had experienced symptoms.

75% of adults aged 60+ said they had never requested a test despite experiencing symptoms on one or more occasions.

The top image shows the findings for the study asking people how long they have been isolating if they either developed symptoms of COVID-19 or were told that they had come into contact with someone else who had developed symptoms. For people who had experienced either event more than once, the study asked people to report the shortest amount of time they had isolated for.

The current rules are that individuals should isolate for 10 days in either circumstance, down from 14 days.

Only 62% of people are isolating for the recommended number of days (10 or more) when they develop symptoms of Covid-19. 39% are isolating for much longer (21 days or more), which could be due to experiencing ongoing symptoms of the virus. However, 13% are not isolating at all when they develop symptoms, 16% are only isolating for 1-5 days, and 9% are only isolating for 6-9 days.

People in higher income households are also showing a slightly higher level of self-isolating for the recommended length of time (63% vs 61%) and are much less likely not to isolate at all (9% vs 18%). People in higher income households are also showing a higher level of self-isolating for the recommended length of time (83% vs 76%) and are much less likely not to isolate at all (8% vs 15%).

Currently Wales has a self-isolation support scheme, meaning people could get a payment of £500 to help with loss of earnings if they have been told to self-isolate and cannot work from home.

Yesterday we asked the First Minister Mark Drakeford if he was concerned about the stats, and pointed to policies elsewhere such as other countries having priority food deliveries or effectively commandeered hotels to allow those in crowded or multi generational households to self isolate, and enquired what other policies are being looked at for Wales to help boost self isolation.

The First Minister told us, “My first reaction to the figures is that they do demonstrate that the vast bulk of people are trying to do the right thing. It is a difficult ask of people to stay in during those circumstances for the 10 days.

“As you can see from those figures, most people do their best to try and stick with it.”

“What more can we do? Well, when we reduced the self isolation period from 14 to 10 days, we didn’t reduce the £500 payment that we offer people to try to help them through any financial difficulties. That was a conscious decision. Now, you could have said, you’re reducing from 14 to 10, you should reduce the sum of money accordingly, but we’ve decided to make it more generous by covering fewer days.”

“We do want to do a bit more on the enforcement side as well, as this is not just a request, this is a requirement of the scheme, given the sort of figures that we are seeing in North Wales of the spread of the virus.”

“We are looking at ways of using lateral flow test, serial testing, to see if towards the end of the isolation period it might be possible to release people who, over a number of days, repeatedly demonstrate that they are testing negative. So there are some more possibilities emerging there.”

“I looked at what has happened in New York for example where people are offered, on a voluntary basis, the opportunity to go to a hotel for self isolation. I think we will want to explore that particularly for those communities where people live at greater density. There are some parts of Wales where housing is pretty small, and people live very close by to one another. There are some communities who are more likely to have three generation households, and others, and if there is evidence that offering people an opportunity to self isolate in different ways makes a difference I think we will definitely look to explore that further.”



Spotted something? Got a story? Email [email protected]



Have a look at...

Turnover up 75% as Wrexham AFC say ‘losses shouldnt be repeated’ as payroll nears £7m

Off-road motorcyclists ‘using their bikes dangerously’ warned they ‘will be seized’

Saturday’s Wrexham Artisan Market to be ‘showcase’ of local and national products

MMA Event coming to north east Wales this weekend!

Rare newts thriving after north east Wales pond restoration

Plans for new studio flat above Wrexham fast food restaurant

Football Banning Order issued to Wrexham man for ‘pyro offences’

Ambulance Service ‘expecting the Bank Holiday period to be a busy one for us’

Reminder to check for Schools Essentials Grant before window closes at end of May

Wrexham AFC Women Awarded first UEFA License and FAW Tier 1 License renews for 2024/25 Season

“Disrespectful” easter egg hunt in cemetery cancelled after backlash

Free Easter Egg Hunt in Wrexham city centre tomorrow!