New recommended isolation period now 10 days, says Mkhize

Covid-19 patients will now be required to isolate for 10 days instead of the initial recommended 14, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said during a health media briefing on revised de-isolation guidelines and track and trace system on Friday.

The guidelines were provided by the World Health organisation.

“The isolation period should be reduced from 14 days to 10 days on condition that the patient does not have a fever and their symptoms have begun to improve. These guidelines apply to healthcare workers too and are implemented with immediate effect.

“This recommendation is based on evidence that most patients with a mild Covid-19 infection continue to shed the virus from their upper airways for approximately 7-12 days. Furthermore, the presence of detectable virus when testing does not necessarily imply infectiousness. It has been proven that in mild cases, virus cultures are generally only positive for 8-9 days after symptom onset,” he said.

The minister said the 10 days will set in when clinical stability has been achieved for those with severe symptoms.

“To illustrate this in simple terms, if a patient was admitted and placed on oxygen, we advise that when they oxygen supplementation is discontinued, the patient must remain in isolation for another 10 days. This continued isolation provides clinical comfort that the patient is no longer infectious.”

Asymptomatic patients are now required to self-isolate for ten days after the initial positive test result. 

A second test will no longer be needed after testing positive and having completed the isolation period.

“If you’re not showing any symptoms after 10 days, the virus is not active enough to spread. But if you have severe symptoms, that must be treated,” said Mkhize.

Also read: Covid-19: More than 16,000 teachers have comorbidities, says Motshekga

Did you get a notification saying that you may have come into contact with someone who was #COVID19? Use #COVIDConnect's risk assessment tool to check for symptoms and get advice on what to do. pic.twitter.com/DlBWMPJEzx

— Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) July 17, 2020

Mkhize further gave an update on the ‘Covid contact’ app, a track and trace app that works on any mobile phone.

The app informs patients of their tests results and alerts contacts anonymously, to protect the identity of the person who has tested positive for Covid-19.

“Between 28 June – 15 July, Track & Trace has dispatched 674,380 SMSes , offered 326, 522 test results and had 39,643 engagements,” said Mkhize.

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.