On Wednesday 9 March COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins, announced the following changes to the isolation period guidelines:
• The isolation period for positive cases and household contacts will be reduced to seven days (previously 10 days) as of midnight tonight (Friday 11 March).
• Household contacts will need to have a rapid antigen test at day three and day seven of their isolation period. If they become symptomatic they should also get a test, and if the result is positive, they are required to isolate for seven days from that point.
• If a person is isolating and still has symptoms after seven days, they are advised to stay home until 24 hours after symptoms resolve.
• Household contacts will not need to isolate if they had had and recovered from COVID- 19 in the past 90 days (previously 28 days). Again, if this applies to you, please monitor yourself for symptoms and get tested, as if you do get COVID-19 again you should self- isolate.
• The Novavax vaccine is now available to be booked for those who have not yet received a vaccine. Please book through https://bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz/ or by calling 0800 28 29 26.
For workers that are asymptomatic household contacts needing to return to work earlier the
Government’s Close Contact Exemption Scheme is still available.
