Home Isolation Guidelines To Be Eased

Effective next month, home isolation for high-risk individuals who have been in direct contact with someone who is infected with Covid-19 will be shortened from 7 to 5 days.

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) director-general, Opas Karnkawinpong said that the National Communicable Disease Committee (NCDC) approved shortening the quarantine period to 5 days while also requiring them to observe and monitor their health for five days after their quarantine.

“The recommendation is consistent with the worldwide situation,” Dr. Opas said at a press conference, adding that persons who isolate themselves at home are not considered patients.

At the moment, high-risk individuals that are exposed to infected persons must self-isolate at home for 7 days for observation and monitoring of their health state for the next 3 days.

He said they are permitted to travel freely throughout the 3-day period but must strictly adhere to health guidelines.

The decision was taken based on evidence that Omicron, which is currently the prevalent strain of Covid-19 worldwide has a 3-day incubation time, Dr. Opas said.

He stated that other countries have agreed to shorten travelers’ quarantine periods in light of the virus’s short incubation time.

After the Songkran festival, the new quarantine guidelines will be given to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) for approval. If approved, it will take effect next month. However, he said that the CCSA would first need to analyze the post-Songkran scenario. Daily cases are likely to increase after the event, but health officials are confident that the situation can be managed, Dr. Opas added.

Persons aged 60 and over, as well as those with pre-existing health conditions, account for 97 percent of Covid-19 mortality in the country, and the majority of total deaths in the country are unvaccinated.

Booster shots have been shown to prevent the virus’s worst symptoms and delivering boosters to high-risk individuals is the current priority for the Public Health Ministry, he added.

Source: Bangkok Post

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