BRITS who are test positive for Covid as of today will have to spend Christmas in self-isolation under Government rules.

Everyone who catches the virus has to go into mandatory 10-day quarantine even if they're fully vaccinated.

That could see thousands potentially miss out on December 25 with friends and family as Omicron rips through Britain.

The new wave of could also see many Brits who come into contact with a positive person having to test daily or isolate.

Here are the latest rules on self-isolation and contact tracing:

WHAT DO I DO IF I TEST POSITIVE?

If you test positive on a lateral flow test, you must self-isolate immediately and order a follow-up PCR swab to confirm the result.

The same is also true if you develop symptoms of Covid such as a high temperature, cough or loss of taste or smell.

Provided the PCR comes back positive you must then self-isolate where you are currently staying for 10 days.

During that time you shouldn't have any visitors or see anyone outside your household, including family who live elsewhere.

You must not leave home for any reason except medical emergencies, and should get food delivered to your door.

And you should alert NHS Test and Trace to anyone you've had contact with in the last 48 hours so they can be contacted.

WHAT IF I LIVE WITH SOMEONE WHO TESTS POSITIVE?

The self-isolation rules for coming into contact with someone who has tested positive depend on your vaccination status.

If you're fully vaccinated then you can avoid quarantining but must take a lateral flow test every day for seven days.

Provided the swabs keep returning negative results you can carry on with life as normal and travel to see family and friends.

But people in that situation are advised to limit contact with people who are clinically vulnerable such as the elderly.

If you are unvaccinated you will need to quarantine for 10 days if you come into contact with anyone who has Covid.

People who can't get the jab for proven medical reasons and under-18s are exempt from self-isolation rules.

The same measures apply regardless of whether or not the person you've had contact with has contracted the Omicron variant.

CAN I VISIT MY FAMILY THIS CHRISTMAS?

Provided you don't test positive yourself and are fully vaccinated you are free to visit friends and family over Christmas.

Ministers are urging people to take a lateral flow test before attending large family gatherings to make sure they're negative.

And they're saying Brits should generally be cautious when it comes to respecting mask wearing rules and general hygiene measures.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps today insisted he's "confident" the current restrictions won't be tightened up before Christmas.

He said: "We're not saying to people to cancel their Christmases or their Christmas parties or getting together with their friends and families.

"But please take the lateral flow test, don't go if you feel ill, get your third jab and you're good to go."

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