SAMA welcomes decision to ditch quarantine after Covid contact
The Department of Health on Friday announced that all quarantine may to stopped especially in the instance when a person came into contact with another who tested positive for Covid-19
“Quarantine has been costly to essential services and society as many people stay away from their work and thus lose their income and children miss on their schooling," the department stated.
“All quarantine is to be stopped with immediate effect.
"This applies to both vaccinated and unvaccinated contacts.”
A circular released by the department also said that no testing for Covid-19 is required irrespective of the risk exposure unless the contact becomes symptomatic.
The South African Medical Research Council (SAMA) says their members the department's decision.
“We welcome the Department of Health's decision that compulsory quarantine is not necessary anymore for people coming into contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19,” says SAMA spokesperson Dr Angelique Coetzee.
Coetzee has urged citizens to follow all non-pharmaceutical safety measures.
“It brings it back to the simple measures of wearing your mask, keeping a 1.5-metre distance between yourself and other people, particularly if you don’t know if they have been vaccinated.”
She added that non-vaccinated people spread the virus faster. especially if they don’t wear a mask.
“Always remember that vaccinated people only spread the virus on a 1/3 average. However. unvaccinated people will spread the virus at 100% especially if they don’t wear masks.”
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