Island's plans to scrap COVID-19 self-isolation law

From March 31 - people with Coronavirus on Island won't have to self-isolate.

That's according to the latest government Covid-19 approach document:  'Living with Covid-19 -Moving to an endemic approach'.

According to the Communicable Disease Control Handbook - A virus is endemic when there are "persistent, low or moderate levels of disease" in a given geographical location.

In the document, officials say while previous plans have 'rightly focused'  on the need to control the advance of COVID-19  - the need now is to focus on the future and ensure the Island starts to emerge from the shadow COVID-19 has cast.

With this in mind, government says this approach has two high level aims:

• Returning Island to normal life
• Ensuring government is prepared to intervene if necessary

This is the withdrawal of Government from people's lives to a  position of trusting people to do the right thing.

Notably, this includes the legal restriction for people with Covid-19 to self-isolate - instead people will be advised to stay away from work, school or sensitive locations such as clinical settings until 48 hours after their symptoms have stopped.

Additionally, people will be advised to keep their distance from other people whilst they are symptomatic.

If people do choose to leave their home whilst they have COVID-19 they will be strongly advised to wear face coverings when they do so.

People with Covid will also no longer be required to identify their close contacts to Public Health. 

Government adds people will be empowered to make their own decisions, based on their own circumstances.