Ministers considering cutting England Covid isolation to five days, says PM

Government looking at science' of reducing period from seven days amid workforce shortages

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Boris Johnson has said the government is looking at the science" of moving to an isolation period of five days in England instead of seven for a positive Covid case, after calls to ease staffing shortages across the economy.

The prime minister confirmed the government was examining the proposal, after several cabinet colleagues made clear they would like to see a shift to five-day isolation if possible.