The quarantine period for COVID-19 patients who are asymptomatic has been decreased to seven days, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said on Thursday.
Those who test positive for COVID-19 will be quarantined for seven days if they show no symptoms, while the quarantine period for symptomatic patients will end 24 hours after they stop displaying symptoms, according to the revised rules.
Although the quarantine period has been reduced, the HPA stated a negative PCR test is necessary before returning to work.
According to the HPA, individuals who have been fully vaccinated and come into contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case can be released after 10 days without additional testing if they exhibit no symptoms, or they can be screened after five days of quarantine and released if they test negative. Only if contacts are quarantined separately from COVID-19 patients will either option be relevant.
Those who have not been fully vaccinated will be quarantined for 14 days and will be released after they test negative.
According to the HPA, the changes in quarantine guidelines are effective immediately and apply to anyone who are already in quarantine.
