What the Health circular says about third dose, vaccine efficacy and quarantine
A circular from the Ministry of Health explains the new quarantine and isolation measures according to the different cases between close high-risk contacts and low-risk contacts. All the details
The circular 'Update on quarantine and isolation measures following the global spread of the new VOC variant SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529)' of the Ministry of Health was published on 31 December, signed by the Director General Prevention of the dicastery, Giovanni Rezza.
It contains the updates of the data on the efficacy of the vaccines against the Omicron variant and the indications to be followed regarding quarantine and isolation.
VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS DATA
The first data on the efficacy of vaccines against Omicron, reads the circular, "suggest that the same would be able to reduce the efficacy of vaccines against infection, transmission, and symptomatic disease, especially in those has completed the cycle of two doses for more than 120 days ”.
YES TO DOSE BOOSTER
For this reason, the Ministry affirms that "it is appropriate to promote the administration of the third booster dose and to differentiate the measures envisaged for the duration and term of the quarantine both on the basis of the time elapsed since the completion of the primary vaccination cycle and of the administration of the booster dose ".
SEVERAL QUARANTENES
The chapter 'Quarantine and its alternative modalities' distinguishes between “low-risk contacts” and “close (high-risk) contacts”.
WHAT IS A HIGH RISK CONTACT
By “high risk contact” with a probable or confirmed case we mean a person who has had direct physical contact with a Covid-19 case at a distance of less than 2 meters and at least 15 minutes. Close contact is also considered to be that of a person who has been in a closed environment (for example classroom, meeting room, waiting room) with a Covid-19 case in the absence of suitable PPE.
QUARANTINE FOR THOSE WHO ARE AT HIGH RISK
In the event of a “high risk contact” the circular describes four different scenarios.
For individuals who have not been vaccinated or who have not completed the primary vaccination course or who have completed the primary course for less than 14 days, the quarantine remains 10 days from the last exposure to the case. At the end of this period it is necessary to perform a molecular or antigen test and result negative.
For subjects who have completed the primary vaccination cycle for more than 120 days and who still have the green pass valid – if asymptomatic – the quarantine lasts 5 days, provided that at the end of this period a molecular test is performed or antigenic with negative result.
For those who received the booster dose, completed the primary vaccination course in the previous 120 days or recovered from the infection in the previous 120 days, quarantine does not apply but it is mandatory to wear respiratory protection devices of type Ffp2 for at least 10 days from the last exposure to the case. In these cases, the self-monitoring period ends on the fifth day. In the event of the appearance of symptoms or if still symptomatic on the fifth day following the date of the last close contact with subjects confirmed positive for Covid 19, it is necessary to carry out a rapid or molecular antigen test.
Finally, the provisions provide that health workers must perform swabs on a daily basis up to the fifth day from the last contact with an infected person.
QUARANTINE FOR LOW RISK PEOPLE
For low-risk contacts, the circular states, if they have always wornsurgical masks or Ffp2 , quarantine is not necessary but common sanitary precautions must be maintained. If it has not been possible to guarantee the use of the mask, these contacts will have to undergo passive surveillance.
WHAT IS LOW RISK CONTACT
By "low-risk contact", as indicated by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Ecdc), we mean a person who has had direct (face-to-face) contact with a Covid-19 case at a distance less than 2 meters and for less than 15 minutes. This definition also applies to a person who has been in an enclosed environment (classroom, meeting room, waiting room, etc.) or who has traveled with a Covid-19 case for less than 15 minutes.
The same goes for "all passengers and crew of a flight in which a Covid-19 case was present, with the exception of passengers seated within 2 seats in any direction with respect to the Covid-19 case, travel companions and staff to the section of the plane / train where the index case was seated, which remain classified as high-risk contacts; a healthcare worker or person who provides direct assistance to a Covid-19 case or laboratory personnel assigned to handling samples of a Covid-19 case, equipped with recommended Dpi ".
ISOLATION
The 'isolation' chapter for Covid-19 positive people closes the circular. For infected subjects who have previously received the booster dose or who have completed the vaccination course for less than 120 days, isolation is reduced from 10 to 7 days, "provided they have always been asymptomatic or have been asymptomatic for at least 3 days and at provided that, at the end of this period, a molecular or antigen test is performed with a negative result ".
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/sanita/cosa-dice-la-circolare-della-salute-su-terza-dose-efficacia-vaccini-e-quarantena/ on Fri, 31 Dec 2021 11:36:59 +0000.