Experts want to double quarantine to 14 days for the vaccinated
Medical experts have recommended the government to double the quarantine period for vaccinated people arriving from “medium risk countries” to 14 days.
The experts from two scientific committees – on vaccine preventable diseases and emerging and zoonotic diseases – met earlier today.
Speaking to the press after the meeting this evening, convener David Hui Shu-cheong said the committees will recommend to the government about lengthening the quarantine period for the vaccinated.
Under existing regulations, those who come from medium risk regions can quarantine for seven days if they are vaccinated and tested positive of antibodies.
But the experts said the duration should double, after a foreign domestic helper was confirmed with Covid-19 after finishing seven-day quarantine.
After 14-day quarantine, they should also observe their health for seven more days.
Hui said from April to August 15, there have been 52 cases of vaccinated people confirmed with Covid-19. Eighty eight percent of the cases carried mutant strains, mainly L452R.
If people quarantine for only seven days, there is a 12 percent chance for them to slip into community, he said.
Starting August 20, fifteen overseas countries will be upgraded from the medium-risk group to high risk. They include Bangladesh, Cambodia, France, Greece, Iran, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and US.
Australia will move from low to medium risk group.
Speaking to the press after the meeting this evening, convener David Hui Shu-cheong said the committees will recommend to the government about lengthening the quarantine period for the vaccinated.
Under existing regulations, those who come from medium risk regions can quarantine for seven days if they are vaccinated and tested positive of antibodies.
But the experts said the duration should double, after a foreign domestic helper was confirmed with Covid-19 after finishing seven-day quarantine.
After 14-day quarantine, they should also observe their health for seven more days.
Hui said from April to August 15, there have been 52 cases of vaccinated people confirmed with Covid-19. Eighty eight percent of the cases carried mutant strains, mainly L452R.
If people quarantine for only seven days, there is a 12 percent chance for them to slip into community, he said.
Starting August 20, fifteen overseas countries will be upgraded from the medium-risk group to high risk. They include Bangladesh, Cambodia, France, Greece, Iran, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and US.
Australia will move from low to medium risk group.
