Minimum quarantine period cut further

Thursday 20 January 2022

Ministers have agreed to cut the minimum isolation period for vaccinated and unvaccinated islanders islanders who test positive for covid.

From now on, fully vaccinated islanders will be able to leave quarantine on day 6 if they have had two negative lateral flow tests - taken at least 24 hours apart - on their fifth and sixth days of isolation.

The same will apply for children aged 11 and under.

Islanders who are not fully vaccinated will be able to start lateral flow testing on day seven. This means they may be able to leave on day 8 if they conduct two lateral flow tests on their seventh and eighth days of isolation - at least 24 hours apart - and receive negative results for both.

However, the new isolation periods will only apply if the individual is symptom-free and has submitted their results on the Government’s online testing portal.

Health Minister Deputy Richard Renouf recommended that islands who leave isolation early “be cautious over the following days after leaving isolation.”

He said the policy decision was made in line with advice from the Government’s scientific advisers - STAC - who have also been asked to consider further easing of current restrictions. Those include consideration of the legal requirement to wear masks in public places such as shops, and the work from home recommendation, Express understands.

Laying out the rationale for the latest decision, Deputy Medical Officer of Health, Dr Ivan Muscat MBE, commented: “Current evidence shows that viral infection reduces quicker in those who are fully vaccinated, and the risk of spreading the virus to others is highest at the start of infection or just after the onset of infection.

“Therefore, it is appropriate that fully vaccinated islanders are able to start testing themselves from day 5 whereas those who are not fully vaccinated may start testing themselves from day 7.”

Walk-in vaccinations are available at Fort Regent until the end of this month for anyone wishing to get a first, second or booster dose.