Fully vaccinated direct contacts with no symptoms, no longer required to quarantine

Fully vaccinated direct contacts of COVID-19 positive cases will no longer be required to undergo a quarantine period, if they do not exhibit symptoms.

This was revealed by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) via a publication on Tuesday, which brought amendment to the current COVID-19 safety measures and guidelines in place for those identified as direct contacts of COVID-19 patients.

The publication issued under Section 12 (c) (III) in reference of Section 34 of the Public Health Protection Act and reads that the amendments will be effective from February 2 onwards.

As such, those who have been fully vaccinated among those identified as direct contacts of positive cases, will not be required to undergo a quarantine period if they do not show symptoms, from Wednesday onwards.

Further, those who have been fully vaccinated among those identified as direct contacts of positive cases and do exhibit symptoms, will be required to undergo Antigen or PCR testing and will not be required to quarantine if their test results return negative for the novel coronavirus. However, they will be required to quarantine until their test results are obtained.

These individuals will be required to undergo PCR testing after five days of coming into contact with a COVID-19-stricken individual.

HPA revealed that this only applies to those who quarantined in a separate location from the patient.

The guidelines highlighted for those who live in the same building or location as a COVID-19 patient are also specified. As such, these contacts will be required to quarantine until the patient’s isolation period ends, and undergo PCR testing. They will be required to quarantine themselves until a negative test result is obtained.

Although the test results of the direct contact return negative for infection, they will be required to undergo PCR testing once more after the COVID-19 patient’s isolation period ends.

The public health authority went on to reveal that individuals may only use the COVID-19 rapid antigen self-test kits if they have symptoms and should they test positive, they will be required to follow the steps mentioned in the publication.

The isolation period or quarantine period of these individuals will only be documented by the authority if they undergo COVID-19 testing at a registered laboratory or healthcare facility.

The public has been urged to strictly adhere to the safety guidelines in place, in order to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.