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LATEST UPDATE: here
The information below was retracted by Government.
The National Department of Health announced revised protocols on contact tracing, quarantining, and isolation.
The changes in the protocols were confirmed in a circular from the Head of Department, Dr Sandile Buthulezi, to provincial heads of the department following recommendations from the Ministerial Advisory Committee.
According to the circular, the proportion of people with some immunity from infection and/or vaccination is high, with "past infection in 60-80% in several serosurveys."
It says containment strategies were no longer appropriate and that "mitigation is the only viable strategy" which is especially true of the newer, more infectious, and more transmissible variants like Omicron.
Buthulezi said new information on the variant indicates "a high proportion of asymptomatic disease with a "high degree of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic spread as well as aerosol spread."
"Only a small proportion of cases are diagnosed," he noted.
According to the circular, the following would be applicable with immediate effect.
Contact Tracing
*All contact tracing be stopped with immediate effect except in congregate settings and cluster outbreak situations or self-contained settings.
*All contacts must continue with their normal duties with heightened monitoring ( daily temperature testing, symptom screening) of any early signs. If they develop symptoms then they should be tested and be managed according to the severity of the symptoms
*All contacts must not be tested unless if they develop symptoms
Quarantining for contacts of confirmed cases of Covid -19
*All quarantine is to be stopped with immediate effect
*This applies to both vaccinated and unvaccinated contacts
*No testing for Covid -19 is required irrespective of the risk exposure unless the contact becomes symptomatic.
Isolation
*Isolation rules are applicable to both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals
* Isolation rules are applicable to high and low-risk individuals
* Return to work from Day 10 onwards must as always take into consideration the individual’s clinical status. Only those patients well enough to work should do so.
Asymptomatic Individuals
a) No isolation period required
b) To do self-observation for 5-7 days for the development of any symptoms with enhanced precautions including avoiding attending settings where many people gather, mask-wearing, and social distancing.
Return to work
All people that have been infected and have been in isolation, must be ready to return to work after completing mandatory period of isolation as above and no further testing is required after either 8 or 10 days of isolation.
