From 1 January 2022, there will be changes to what you need to do when you come into contact with a COVID-19 case. Requirements will be eased for vaccinated people.
When a person tests positive to COVID-19, people they’ve come into contact with are classified as low risk, casual or close contacts.
Yesterday a teleconference was held with the QLD Health Covid response unit and the Ministerial Construction Council.
Key points included: continuing with basic health measures, vaccinations (including boosters) and managing both expectations and work arrangements as the virus starts to circulate around the community. To assist with the latter, as discussed Queensland Health have released the below info:
Requirements from 1 January 2022
Low risk casual contact
No quarantine or testing requirements.
Casual contacts
Casual contacts will need to
- get a COVID-19 PCR test immediately, and
- home quarantine until receiving a negative test result.
Casual contacts are also encouraged to wear a mask, when outside their home, for 14 days following exposure.
Vaccinated close contact
Vaccinated close contacts will need to:
- quarantine for 7 days
- get a COVID-19 PCR test immediately, and on day 5.
If the day 5 test is negative, the contact may leave home quarantine on day 8, but must observe some additional precautionary measures until day 14 including:
- wearing a mask, when outside their home
- not visiting high-risk settings, such as hospitals, residential aged care, disability care accommodation and correctional facilities.
Vaccinated people, who live in the same household as the contact do not need to quarantine, but are required to get a COVID-19 PCR test on day 1 and day 5.
Unvaccinated people, who live in the same household as the contact must follow the same quarantine and testing requirements as the contact, unless they can be separated from the contact.
Unvaccinated close contact
Unvaccinated close contacts will need to:
- quarantine for 14 days
- get a COVID-19 PCR test immediately, and on day 5 and day 12.
If the day 12 test is negative, the contact may leave home quarantine after completing their 14 days.
Vaccinated people, who live in the same household as the contact, need to quarantine for 7 days and get a COVID-19 PCR test on day 1 and day 5, unless they can be separated from the contact.
If the close contact is 12 years old or under, vaccinated people, who live in the same household as the contact, do not need to quarantine, but are required to get a COVID-19 PCR test on day 1 and day 5.
Unvaccinated people, who live in the same household as the contact must follow the same quarantine and testing requirements as the contact, unless they can be separated from the contact.
Contact tracing is conducted by Queensland Health’s Public Health Units. You will be categorised as one of the below types of contact, based on a risk assessment. We consider your vaccination status, mask use, how long you were near the positive case and other epidemiological and environmental factors.
Low risk casual contact
A person who has been in the same setting with a confirmed COVID-19 case in their infectious period, but does not meet the definition of a casual contact.
Casual contact
A person who has been near a COVID-19 case and there is some risk of transmission, but does not meet the definition of a close contact.
Vaccinated close contact
A person who has had at least 15 minutes face-to-face contact or shared an enclosed space with a COVID-19 case, and there is a reasonable risk of infection.
This will include household contacts, extensive social interaction with a case or being present at a high risk setting.
Vaccinated means a person who is fully vaccinated – that is, has had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and it has been 7 days since their second dose.
Unvaccinated close contact
A person who has had at least 15 minutes face-to-face contact or shared an enclosed space with a COVID-19 case, and there is a reasonable risk of infection.
This will include household contacts, extensive social interaction with a case or being present at a high risk setting.
Unvaccinated means a person who is not fully vaccinated.
