Most people will continue to self-isolate for Covid-19 even though they're no longer legally required to - but around one in six say they won’t bother. The Office for National Statistics found that eight in 10 people (80%) who tested positive for the virus in early February, fully adhered to the self-isolation requirements.
Almost all (98%) self-isolated after receiving a positive test, while just under three-quarters of respondents to the regular ONS survey (73%) said they stayed at home in the period between the onset of symptoms and the positive test. That was before self-isolation rules and all remaining restrictions were scrapped in England at the end of February.
According to the ONS, around seven in 10 people (72%) say they will continue to self-isolate if they catch the virus despite it no longer being a legal requirement to do so. However, 16% said they would not stay at home and avoid others if they developed symptoms or tested positive for Covid-19, while the remaining 12% have yet to decide.
