Whole households should cancel gatherings and visits to events if a single member tests positive for Covid, because others are probably infected too, according to government scientific advisers. Under current advice, close contacts who are double-jabbed do not have to self-isolate, but they are urged to take lateral flow tests for the next seven days. “If one person from a group tests positive prior to an event or gathering then none should attend,” the experts add. The increased transmissibility means there is a greater risk of super-spreader events in the home, workplaces, hospitals and care homes, the advisers warn. Instead of urging close contacts of confirmed cases to take lateral flow tests for a week, the scientists argue that self-isolation is likely to be more effective at preventing more cases, and would also reduce demand for lateral flow tests if supply is limited.

Source: The Guardian December 19, 2021 20:31 UTC