{"id":24758,"date":"2022-01-12T10:20:53","date_gmt":"2022-01-12T15:20:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24758"},"modified":"2022-01-12T10:20:53","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T15:20:53","slug":"government-relaxes-rules-for-boosted-close-contacts-of-covid-19-cases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24758","title":{"rendered":"Government Relaxes Rules For ‘Boosted’ Close Contacts Of Covid-19 Cases"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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People who have had a booster vaccination will no longer have to isolate for five days if they have no symptoms (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Government has signed off on plans to relax the rules for close contacts of Covid-19 cases, the Minister for Health has confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stephen Donnelly presented advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) to Cabinet on Wednesday, and the changes to isolation rules will now take effect from midnight on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nphet had recommended that people who are deemed close contacts but have received a booster vaccination and have no symptoms should no longer have to isolate for five days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who have not received a booster should restrict their movements for seven days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Donnelly said following the Cabinet meeting: \u201cWe got Government agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is a lot of support for the changes to the isolation rules. I think it\u2019s going to make a big difference to people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat we have agreed (takes effect) from midnight tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom midnight Thursday they will be in place. It will really ease the burden on people right across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s one of the things the public health team considered is if we are relaxing the rules, there is a chance of more spread, however I think that has been more balanced against the fact the country is doing so well in terms of dealing with Omicron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe booster campaign has been pivotal in making sure that the critical care numbers stay down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s too early to make definitive statements but in the round when the risk was assessed against how well Ireland was doing, it was felt that was an appropriate move at this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know it will come as a relief to a lot of people who really want to get back about their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe still need to do the antigen testing and still wear the higher grade masks as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Donnelly said an online portal to allow people to upload positive antigen test results and close contact details will be put in place in the next few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the Health Service Executive (HSE) is working through the final logistics and the technical requirements before it can go live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Donnelly admitted there is \u201can element of risk\u201d in relaxing Covid restrictions for close contacts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have seen ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control) advice and undoubtedly if we relax the rules on close contacts, it does add an element of risk,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think what we are seeing now is an endorsement of the booster campaign and endorsement of the national effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBefore Christmas I asked for an all-hands-on-deck approach right across the healthcare community, and people stepped up in an incredible way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur general practices, the doctors, nurses, our pharmacists, and everyone working in the pharmacies and the amazing people working in our vaccine centers, they stopped a lot of the other work they were doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey vaccinated so many people. We are second in Europe, we were leading in Europe for quite some time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe got as many of the vulnerable groups vaccinated as possible before this Omicron rocket took off. We knew it would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to give thanks to everyone involved in that program. It has been a real national effort.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around 2.5 million booster jabs have been administered, and Mr Donnelly said it is the success of the booster campaign that has allowed the Government to change the rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have the second-highest reported cases in Europe and yet, while other countries are looking at serious measures, we are looking to ease the burden on other people,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is a testament to a national effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have a lot of people out of work or people who want to go about their lives. It\u2019s quite a burden. People have followed it very closely which, I think, is why we are in a positive place right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin said 10 million vaccinations have been administered in the past 12 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added: \u201cThe advice has been very clear and all of this is about balance in terms of supply chains and essential services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere will be further meetings about the restrictions. The peak has not yet been reached. Public authorities anticipate that we will reach the peak within the next week or two.\u201d<\/p>\n

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