As Covid cases start to rise again in Wales, more people are now facing the question of what they should do if they catch the disease.
The most recent figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), published on Friday, June 24, suggest that around 68,500 people would have been positive for Covid in the week ending June 18, 2022 - equivalent to around one in 45 residents. This is up from 64,800 positive cases in last week's reported figures, equivalent to one in 75 residents.
Until the start of 2022, the rules around Covid were very clear. If you had symptoms, you isolated and got a test. That was the law, but now, things are open to the discretion of the person involved. So what is the current guidance?
Read more: Covid cases rise in Wales again but at the slowest rate in the UK
Self-isolate if you have symptoms
The Welsh Government's latest guidance (not the law) is that you should isolate if you have symptoms or test positive.
Some people can apply for a £500 payment if they can’t work from home, or if your child has to isolate. However this scheme ends on July 20. If you tested positive and had to self-isolate on or before June 30, and you are eligible for support, you have 21 days to make a claim after your last day of self-isolation.
The Welsh Government says if you have symptoms and are unable to stay home, that you should try and do the following (again this isn't law):
- Wear a face mask if you do need to be indoors with others – this protects other people from catching the virus
- Reduce the number of people you see and the time spent with them. The fewer people you meet, the fewer people you will infect. The longer time spent with people, the more like they are to catch the virus
- Physically distance from others - Staying at least two metres away from people you do not live with can still reduce the chances of the virus spreading. It’s also a good idea to keep your distance from other members of your household as much as possible, especially if they are vulnerable.
My lateral flow test was positive, do I have to self-isolate?
If you have Covid-19, you can infect other people even if you have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. Although it is no longer a legal requirement, the most effective way to avoid passing on Covid -19 infection is avoiding contact with other people and self-isolating for five full days and taking lateral flow tests from day 5 until you return two consecutive negative results, or until day 10 (whichever is earlier).
I have been in contact with a positive case, do I need to self-isolate?
The people who are at the highest risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 are the persons who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. Contacts do not need to self-isolate but should be vigilant for the main Covid -19 symptoms.
According to the Welsh Government they should:
- Pay close attention to the main symptoms of COVID-19. If any of these symptoms develop, they should order a LFT test. They are advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people while they are waiting for their test result
- Minimise contact with the person who has Covid-19
- Work from home if able to do so
- Avoid contact with anyone they know who is at higher risk of becoming severely unwell if they are infected with Covid-19, especially those with a severely weakened immune system
- Limit close contact with other people outside their household, especially in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces
- Wear a well-fitting face covering made with multiple layers or a surgical face mask in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces and where they are in close contact with other people
- Wash their hands regularly and cover coughs and sneezes
The Welsh Gov say they should follow this advice for 10 days after being in contact with the person who tested positive.
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