HEALTH Secretary Matt Hancock should have stayed home for longer than seven days after contracting Covid-19, Labour's newly elected deputy leader Angela Rayner said.

The Government's guidelines state that if you have symptoms of coronavirus, you need to self-isolate at home for seven days or for as long as you still have a high temperature, and anyone you live with should stay in for 14 days even if they do not have any symptoms.

The World Health Organisation states you should "follow the directions of your local health authority" on self-isolation.

Rayner, who herself has been self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms, said she was in bed for six days and her symptoms were "very debilitating".

READ MORE: Outdoor exercise could be BANNED if lockdown rules ignored, Hancock warns

The National: Angela Rayner

Speaking to Sky News' Sophie Ridge On Sunday, Rayner said: "I'm disappointed that Matt Hancock, after seven days of having the virus, went out when the World Health Organisation has said you should self-isolate for 14 days.

"I think it's right that we do that because I cannot stress enough the severity of the symptoms that I have suffered, as you can tell from how breathless I am still now, and I'm day nine, day 10.

"I think the Government really need to give that clarity and continue to support people doing the right thing."

Hancock announced on Friday March 27 he had tested positive for Covid-19, and he came out of isolation on Thursday and presented the daily Downing Street press conference.

He is assumed to have self-isolated for 24 hours before he made his positive diagnosis public.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson went into isolation on March 27 and announced on Friday he was remaining in isolation as he still had a temperature.

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