Self-isolation could be cut to 7 days ‘in bid to boost compliance’

Not enough people are complying with self-isolation rules (Picture: Getty Images)

Contacts of coronavirus cases could soon be asked to isolate for just seven days in a bid to boost ‘compliance’, it has been reported.

Under the current rules, anyone notified of their close proximity to an infected person must self-isolate for a period of 14 days after being contacted by Test and Trace.

But a government source has now claimed this period could be reduced to between seven and 10 days in hopes of ensuring more people cooperate. It’s thought the amount of time required can be ‘off-putting’ to people and prevents them from doing it at all.

A Downing Street source told the Telegraph: ‘Compliance is not as high as we would like and self-isolation is key if we are going to beat the virus.’

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The changes, which could come into force within weeks, would not apply to those who test positive for the virus.

It comes amid reports that Boris Johnson has become ‘disillusioned’ with Test and Trace, despite his previous insistence it would be ‘world-beating’. Last week the system hit a record low with just 59.6% of contacts being successfully contacted and told to self-isolate.

The self-isolation period could be slashed from 14 days to just seven (Picture: Getty Images)

The rules would not apply to people with the virus (Picture: Getty Images)

A senior Tory MP has since called for the boss of Test and Trace, peer Dido Harding, to be axed from her role.

Sir Bernard Jenkin, who chairs the powerful Liaison Committee of senior MPs, said Baroness Harding should be given a ‘well-earned break’ so she and others could ‘reflect on the lessons learned so far’.

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He wrote in the Sunday Telegraph: ‘There is a spaghetti of command and control at the top, which is incapable of coherent analysis, assessment, planning and delivery.

‘The immediate priority is to fill the vacuum of leadership in Test and Trace, which is destroying cooperation and compliance.

‘Government harnessed the military to regain control in the foot and mouth crisis; the Prime Minister should follow that example today, by installing a single leader, a three or four star military commander with a reputation for handling complexity under stress.

‘Test and trace should then be tasked with generating and sustaining a campaign targeted at achieving behaviour change by consent.’

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