Plans To Cut Isolation Period For Covid-19

Friday, 25 March 2022 14:27

By Caoimhe Harney

Currently people with Covid have to self isolate for seven days.

The isolation period for people who contracted Covid-19 may be reduced under new plans being considered by Government.

There are a number serious concerns about the impact of the current seven-day isolation period on both public and private workforces.

Business groups welcome the suggestion, as they report many staff are out of work due to positive tests but are asymptomatic.

In the US, those who test positive but have no symptoms only have to isolate for five days, while people with covid in England are no longer legally required to self-isolate.

Despite rising transmission of Covid, the Government is examining whether the isolation period should be reduced to allow employees to return to work sooner after infection.

The discussions come as a new wave of Covid sweeps the country.

At the moment, a new group to oversee the pandemic is being put in place.

The group will replace the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and will issue advice to the Government on how to react to the virus.

It will have up to 12 members, including public officials such as chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan.

However, a leading GP says some people are still testing positive on an antigen test even after 7 days of self-isolation.

Monaghan GP Illona Duffy says it could be reduced to 5 days, but people shouldn't be going into work if they're still testing positive: