Question NW900 to the Minister of Health
08 June 2020 - NW900
Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health
Why do quarantine protocols relating to the testing of persons differ from one site and/or facility to the next, as persons in the different sites and/or facilities are tested either on arrival or only after the expiry of 11 to 14 days of quarantine?
Reply:
As per the approved GUIDELINES FOR QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION IN RELATION TO COVID-19 EXPOSURE AND INFECTION it states that: “Because some quarantined people might be COVID-19 positive (or might become positive during the quarantine period), individuals in quarantine facilities must be kept under individual quarantine (self-quarantine) within the facility. Those who develop symptoms {meet the person-under-investigation (PUI) criteria} should be tested and managed appropriately.” It also indicates the following: “The recommended duration of quarantine for COVID-19 exposure is 14 days from the time of exposure (close contact or entering the country). If the patient remains well during the period of quarantine, they do not need to test/retest at the end of the 14-day period.”
There are certain circumstances that necessitate testing and others that do not. Testing is dependent on the risk assessment of the individual at any specific point in time.
END.