The Ministry of Health has issued a reminder to the general public about the changes made to the Covid-19 test, which will come into effect on Friday night.
Starting the evening of April 22, the Northern Ireland testing site will be closed from this date, eliminating the need for anyone with Covid-19 symptoms to undergo a PCR test.
Instead, these tests, which continue online for free throughout the pharmacy or state, will ask you to have a sideflow test if you have Covid-19 symptoms.
If you do not see any signs of the virus, we recommend that you do not re-do immunochromatography unless you are in a high-risk environment such as a nursing home, hospital, or nursing home.
Access to tests for asymptomatic people will be suspended from Friday night, and the ministry will also test those who provide personal care at home near those who may be at high risk for Covid-19. Said.
The Public Health Agency’s contact tracing service will also be modified to focus on positive cases and provide public health advice to household members.
They said those who tested positive should stop contact tracing in the wider community from April 22 and continue to report their results.
Changes to the COVID-19 test will take effect tomorrow night.Lateral flow testing is performed on all eligible individuals, including those with symptoms
You can order the test online or get the test from your local pharmacy.Please check your qualifications
https://t.co/D9CBaQdQgb pic.twitter.com/vvQmGAhuPT
— Ministry of Health (@healthdpt) April 21, 2022
The quarantine rules for household contacts have also changed. Daily flow test is no longer recommended.
People in the household are only asked to test if they have developed symptoms. This applies to both vaccinated and unvaccinated home contacts.
Dr. Lourda Geoghegan, Deputy Doctor, said:
“These changes are proportional and necessary at this stage of the pandemic, as outlined in the ministry’s migration plan.
“Covid-19 infections in healthcare and social care settings remain a risk and increase employee demand and pressure.
“People who visit friends and family in these environments should continue to have an immunochromatography prior to their visit.”
Dr. Geoghegan added:
“Home contact in the positive case increases the risk of infection with the virus. Therefore, positive cases and their families continue to receive the necessary public health advice.
“People who are at high risk and may be eligible for COVID-19 treatment should start treatment immediately, even if their symptoms are mild, so do immunochromatography as soon as they appear. Also important. Positive test results.
Source: Belfasttelegraph
