The Covid-19 self-isolation period will be cut in England from seven to five full days, following growing pressure from business and health sectors over the impact of Omicron-linked staff absences.
Javid told the House of Commons that from January 17 individuals will be allowed to end their self-isolation if they have negative flow results on both days of the week and no temperature.
People can leave isolation at the start of day six if they test twice before they go. The capacity we have built up in tests will allow us to restore the freedom to this country while keeping everyone safe.
Individuals who are unvaccinated are required to take a break for 10 days.
The data from the UK Health Security Agency showed that two-thirds of positive cases were no longer infectious by the end of the day.
Individuals who had at least two Covid-19 vaccine doses and recorded two negative lateral flow tests could end isolation early.
Matthew Taylor, the chief executive of the National Health Service Confederation, said that the policy change would be welcomed by the health service if it could mean more health and care workers who are well enough can return to the frontline.
Billy Quilty, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said the testing requirement meant new isolation edicts were low-risk.
Quilty said that the test to release would increase demand for the tests further.
The move was welcomed by business groups. Mike Cherry, chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, said it was a relief to see policymakers embrace the recommendation.
The UK is the freest country in Europe because of its booster programme, testing capabilities and antiviral treatment, according to Javid. He said that this country is leading the world in learning to live with Covid.
England's health service continues to be plagued by staff shortages as it grapples with more than 2,000 coronaviruses admissions a day and mounting pressures on emergency care.
About half of the staff at acute hospital trusts in England were off work on January 9 because of Covid-19 sickness or self-isolation.
The number of patients waiting for operations and procedures in the UK increased to 6 million in November last year, the highest level since records began in 2007, according to separate data. The number of patients waiting more than 12 hours to be admitted after going to an accident and emergency department reached a record high.
The number of people in hospital with Covid has increased while the number of staff who are able to work has decreased. Despite this, the staff of the National Health Service pulled out all the stops to keep services going.
Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, England's deputy chief medical officer, will be leaving his government position at the end of March after four-and-a-half years in the role.
Wes Streeting questioned the timing of his decision amid reports of a government break-up in 2020. The two events were not related according to government insiders.
In the spring, Van Tam will return as pro-vice-chancellor for the faculty of medicine and health sciences after he left the health department.
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