LONDON (BLOOMBERG) - Fully vaccinated adults in the UK will no longer be legally required to self-isolate if they come into contact with a coronavirus case from Aug 16, the government said.

       All under-18s will also be able to avoid isolation under the new rules, according to a statement late Wednesday (Aug 11) from the Department of Health.

       People identified as close contacts by the test-and-trace programme will instead be advised to take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and will be free to go to work and school as normal.

       The announcement comes after last month's so-called "pingdemic," when a surge in alerts from the National Health Service's Covid-19 mobile phone app caused havoc for British food producers, retailers and pubs - who warned supply chains were nearing breaking point.

       "Getting two doses of a vaccine has tipped the odds in our favour and allowed us to safely reclaim our lost freedoms," Health Secretary Sajid Javid said. "Double-jabbed people who test positive will still need to self-isolate."

       Just over three quarters of all UK adults have been double-vaccinated, while 89 per cent have had one dose.

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