The Ministry of Health clarifies that from today, 1 February 2022, the differentiation of the test to stay procedure for students who are close contacts and have completed their vaccination programme or hold a certificate of infection and the 90-day period has not expired. This differentiation applies to those students who are close contacts of a confirmed positive case diagnosed on or after February 1, 2022.
Specifically:
*** What applies to close contacts who have completed their vaccination schedule or hold a certificate of infection and the 90-day period has not elapsed?
- Under the protocol they are not required to self-limit and on days 3 and 5 of contact, they undergo a Rapid test and there is a recommendation for a PCR or Rapid test on day 7.
- The Rapid test on days 3 and 5 can be carried out either through the sampling units attending schools or through predetermined sampling sites referred by the Ministry of Health.
*** What about close contacts who have no history of vaccination, or have received at least one dose of vaccine, or have become ill and the 90-day period has elapsed?
- They will have the option of either being confined for 10 days as provided for in the relevant protocol and released on the 7th day after a Rapid test or PCR laboratory test, or presenting themselves at the designated sites for the Rapid test every day for the period of 7 consecutive days after contact (excluding holidays and weekends).
- Students participating in the "testtostay" are not required to attend the predetermined sampling sites referred to them by the Ministry of Health for a rapid antigen detection test (Rapidtest) on the 3rd and 5th day after the date of contact. [*]This measure applies exceptionally only to the opening hours of schools (including single day schools and optional day schools) and after the withdrawal of close contacts from schools, they will be self-limiting as they will continue to be considered close contacts and will not be able to take part in other evening activities (such as tutorials, sports, etc.).a) [*]Students should avoid using public transport and should travel to school in a private vehicle. [*]Absence of students from class during the laboratory test procedure will be excused. [*]It is clarified that if an individual is tested in the afternoon and found positive, his/her school contacts will be able to use the "test to stay" measure. [*]Elementary and middle school students residing in remote or mountainous communities will continue to be served by visiting sampling sites. [*]In all cases, parents/guardians are responsible for accompanying and supervising children attending the sampling centres located at schools.
Recall that:
- Elementary school students in private and public schools are required to submit a negative Rapid test twice a week.
- Middle school students in private and public schools are required to take a 72-hour negative Rapid test.
It is clarified that students who have completed their vaccination program (two doses) or have a certificate of infection valid for 90 days are exempt from the above requirement.
(AF)
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