Filenews 19 April 2021
Nine answers to frequently asked questions regarding crown cases and close contacts are given by the Ministry of Health as a reminder of the proper observance of the measures.
1. What does a case of coronavirus mean?
A case of coronavirus is considered to be the person who has a positive result in a diagnostic test for coronavirus (molecular examination-PCR or rapid antigen test).
2. What should I do if I am confirmed as a case of a coronavirus test?
When we are informed of a positive result from a diagnostic examination we must immediately limit ourselves and expect communication from the Department of Health's Tracking Team. We also inform our Personal Physician, who is responsible for monitoring the clinical image of his beneficiary, on a regular basis.
The positive person is not allowed to leave the house and visit. It is noted that the virus positive person is prohibited from going to the sampling points of rapid tests. Ideally, the person should live alone in the house/space or, if this is not possible, be isolated in a room of the house, which will not be used by the other members of the household. The room in which the virus positive person resides should be adequately ventilated.
At the same time, we begin to record the people with whom we have had close contact and inform them so that they can limit themselves immediately.
3. How many days should I remain in self-limitation if I am a case of coronavirus?
Cases of coronavirus remain self-contained for a period of 14 days from the day of onset of their symptoms or, in the case of an asymptomatic person, from the day of sampling. In case the person develops symptoms at any stage of 14 days he informs the Doctor's staff and has frequent telephone communication.
For the release of the positive case, the Personal Physician is responsible on the basis of a protocol notified to doctors by the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit.
In case the person does not have a Personal Physician, he is released by the Release Team of the Ministry of Health.
In both cases above, upon release, all cases receive a text message indicating the day of release. Sick leave is given by the Personal Physician.
5. When am I considered close case contact?
Close case contact is the person who, inter alia:
- He's living with a confirmed case.
- He has direct physical contact with a confirmed case (e.g. handshake).
- He has face-to-face contact with a confirmed COVID-19 incident less than 2 metres away with a duration of more than 15 minutes.
- He met indoors (e.g. classroom, cinema, hospital waiting areas, etc.) with a case of coronavirus less than 2 meters away with a duration of more than 15 minutes.
6. Who will inform me that I am in close contact with a case?
When a person is diagnosed positive for the virus, they must inform all persons with whom they have had close contact (see answer to question 5) in the period 48 hours before the onset of symptoms or before sampling from which the positive result is obtained. At the same time, it records the contact details of close contacts and sends them electronically to the Tracing Team.
As soon as a person is informed that he is in close contact with a case, he or she must be kept in his or her own home or in a place separate from the other members of his or her household. You are not allowed to leave the house or visit for people who are rated as close contacts. Under no circumstances shall a person considered to be in close contact be allowed to go to the sampling points of rapid tests.
8. How many days does the restriction apply to close contacts?
Close contacts shall remain in mandatory self-contained contact for 14 days from their last contact with the case regardless of the outcome of the laboratory examination to which they are subjected. The day of contact with the case is defined as day '0'.
Close contacts undergo a PCR test after arranging an appointment from the Public Health Clinics and receive instructions via text message for self-regulation.
Close contacts may be released earlier than 14 days ONLY if they undergo a molecular examination (PCR) at their own expense in an approved private clinical laboratory on the 7th day of their restriction, and if the result is negative. It is stressed that the result is not accepted by rapid antigen test.
If a person who is considered to be in close contact shows symptoms at any time during his isolation, he must immediately contact his Personal Physician and inform him that he is close contact of a case.
A person shall be exempted from the mandatory restriction if it is assessed as close case contact in the following cases:
- Persons who have completed their vaccination regimen with any of the available licensed vaccines. A prerequisite is that 14 days have passed since receiving the last dose of the vaccine.
- Persons released as positive cases within 6 months.
Source: eyenews
