New Covid-19 rules come into play today reducing the length of time you'll need to test for but ITV Good Morning Britain's Dr Hilary Jones has advised caution in light of the new rules.
From today, Monday, January 17, new government guidance says that people in England can end their coronavirus isolation after five full days.
It is a move that has been hailed as restoring “extra freedoms”.
The new rules mean that those people who have tested positive for Covid or been advised to self-isolate can now leave quarantine after five full days, as long as they test negative on days five and six.
However, favourite TV doctor, Dr Hilary, told Good Morning Britain viewers to be cautious around the new five-day isolation limit, explaining that even if you test negative on day five and six, it's not necessarily safe.
Dr Hilary said: "A positive test means that you have viral particles still there which the test will detect, it doesn't necessarily mean you are infectious."
Presenter Susanna Reid asked: "If you test negative on days five and six are you definitely not infectious"
To which the answer was a straight no.
He said: "No, you could be infectious... 13% of people on day five are infectious and could have a negative test. It is not a guarantee that you are not infectious, which is why they are saying you should still wear a mask and take extra precautions particularly avoid people that are immunosuppressed or more at risk clinically."
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