New self isolation rules,

COVID-19 positive people can now isolate at home in certain circumstances, under a change in the rules announced by the Communicable Diseases High Committee that came into effect on Monday.

According to a Health Ministry written statement, issued late last Friday, it was stated that, subject to specified conditions, if a doctor at the pandemic hospital deems appropriate, Covid-19 positive people can stay at home with an electronic wristband tag. The rules for home isolation of Covid-19 patients, as announced by the Health Ministry on July 16, are as follows:

Required home conditions:

1- Covid-19 positive patients must stay in a separate home for them to be placed in home quarantine.

2- If the person is in need of care or under 18, they can be placed in home quarantine with their carer or a parent or a person legally responsible, provided that there is a separate home.

3- A Covid-19 positive person placed in home quarantine will be monitored with a wristband. They cannot leave the home during quarantine (they can only leave in the case of an emergency, with the knowledge of the quarantine centre).

4- Absolutely no visitors are allowed into a home where a Covid19 positive person has been placed in quarantine.

How the process will work:

1- A person is called by Ministry of Health personnel and informed that their test is positive.

2- They are told they should not go to another test centre to repeat the test, and not increase transmission.

3- They will come to the Pandemic Hospital at the time they are told, where they will be assessed and a decision that they will be monitored at home or in hospital will be made accordingly. Details are obtained about their close contacts at home, work and in social activities.

4- If it is decided that the person should be monitored at home as a result of the assessment made at the hospital, a wristband is fitted to the patient and they are sent to their home. They are informed of a telephone number to be contacted if there are any problems.

5- On the 10th day of home monitoring, patients are given an appointment and a PCR check is performed. If the test result is negative, home quarantine is ended or if it is positive, the test is repeated three days later.

6- If a positive person has shortness of breath, chest pain and an increase in existing symptoms (fever, cough, fatigue, headache, etc.) they should provide information by calling 1102.

Note: If a Covid-19 positive person has not entered quarantine alone because they are a child or in need of care, or for a similar reason, when the patient’s test becomes negative, a PCR test is also performed on the carer. If the carer’s test is negative, the carer is then placed in contact quarantine for 10 days.