Covid patients can cut isolation to seven days from today

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( December 22, 2021 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [Covid isolation period cut from 10 days to seven with two lateral flow tests]( Covid patients will be able to reduce the self-isolation period from Wednesday as a rule-change cuts the number of days required from 10 to seven. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says anyone infected with the virus can now take two lateral flow tests, 24 hours apart, on days six and seven, in order to stop quarantining — provided the results are negative. It comes as tens of thousands of Britons test positive for Covid just before Christmas, ruining festive plans. 2 / [Top civil servant accused of misleading officials over Christmas party knowledge]( Exclusive: Cabinet Secretary, assured colleagues he was unaware of any gathering or social activity in his office, The Independent has been told 3 / [No new Covid restrictions before Christmas, Boris Johnson announces]( But public left in the dark about threat of tough new curbs before New Year 4 / [Hospitals braced for ‘mass casualty’ scenario amid fears one-third of NHS staff could be off sick]( Exclusive: Christmas is going ahead but ‘we’re going to suffer for it afterwards’ says senior NHS source 5 / [Liz Truss accused of using Article 16 threat to bolster position with Brexiteers]( Foreign secretary insists UK position ‘has not changed’ after taking over from ‘Frosty the No-man’ The Big Question How damaging have the Downing Street party revelations been to public trust? Boris Johnson is distrusted as a source of guidance on Covid-19 by almost six out of 10 Britons (59 per cent) - more than distrust information from social media - according to a new poll carried out for The Independent by Savanta. More worryingly, almost three in 10 (28 per cent) said that they are less likely to follow Covid rules as a result of reports of Christmas parties at 10 Downing Street, including 37 per cent of the younger 18-34 age groups who are most likely to cram into pubs and clubs to party in the next few crucial weeks. What else does the survey have to tell us about the public mood as the nation waits with bated breath to learn what the Omicron outbreak means for Britain this festive season? [Read the full story >]( Watch / [World championship: Darts fans chant ‘Stand up if you hate Boris’]( NUMBER OF THE DAY £94m Boris Johnson’s post-Brexit trade deal with Australia will damage the UK’s agriculture and food sectors by hundreds of millions of pounds, according to the government’s own impact assessment. British farming, forestry and fishing will suffer a £94m hit from the free trade agreement, a Department for International Trade (DIT) document has revealed. QUOTE OF THE DAY “Once again, this wretched virus has put paid to the joy of entertaining audiences, something that I hold so dear” – Andrew Lloyd Webber says he is “devastated” after revealing that his theatre production of Cinderella is cancelled until February 2022 due to the spread of the Covid Omicron variant Other stories you might like [Dubai ruler ordered to pay record divorce settlement of £554m by UK court]( [Andrew Lloyd Webber ‘devastated’ as Cinderella theatre production is cancelled until 2022]( [Man accused of assaulting Chris Whitty demands chief medic appears at his trial]( Articles available exclusively to subscribers McRae, The Independent: ["What do the state of public finances mean for Rishi Sunak’s leadership bid?"]( If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.