The Government has announced a change in policy relating to self-isolation.
Now people who exhibit coronavirus symptoms will need to rest away from other members of their household and the public for longer.
The figure has been increased from seven days with Health Secretary Matt Hancock warning about a second Covid-19 wave which has started to "roll across Europe".
Let's take a look at the latest Government advice.
How long should I isolate for?
People who test positive for coronavirus or display symptoms must now self-isolate for 10 days.
The UK’s chief medical officers said on Thursday that the period must increase from the current rule of seven days because of the risk individuals may still be able to spread Covid-19.
In a joint statement, they said the change for those who experience the key symptoms of a new continuous cough, high temperature or loss of taste or smell is needed because of the “low but real possibility of infectiousness”.
“Evidence, although still limited, has strengthened and shows that people with Covid-19 who are mildly ill and are recovering have a low but real possibility of infectiousness between seven and nine days after illness onset,” they said.
Why is Matt Hancock concerned?
The Health Secretary earlier warned that a new spike in Covid-19 cases is “clearly” beginning to emerge in Europe as he said “we’ve got to do everything” to prevent it reaching the UK.
He told Sky News: “I am worried about a second wave. I think you can see a second wave starting to roll across Europe and we’ve got to do everything we can to prevent it from reaching these shores and to tackle it."
Mr Hancock also warned travellers that new countries could be added to the quarantine list in the coming days after passengers arriving in the UK from Spain were ordered to isolate for two weeks as cases there increased.
He said ministers are looking at ways to reduce the 14-day period, possibly by the use of multiple tests, amid pressure from the tourism industry.
But he said ministers are constantly considering whether to add countries to the quarantine list and when pressed if new nations could be added in the next few days, he replied: “Yes.”
What does death rate analysis tell us?
The excess mortality measure is seen as the best way to compare deaths during the crisis because it takes into account not just Covid-19 deaths but those from the indirect impacts of the pandemic, such as delayed access to healthcare.
Analysis of death rates by the Office for National Statistics showed that by the week ending May 29, the death rate in England was 7.55 per cent higher than the average for the previous five years.
Spain ranked second at 6.65 per cent, followed by Scotland (5.11 per cent), Belgium (3.89 per cent) and Wales (2.78 per cent).
