New rules around close contacts will take effect from tomorrow at midnight.
Ministers have signed off on an exemption is isolate for close contacts who are fully boosted and are asymptomatic.
While those aged under 40 won't now need to get a PCR test if they get a positive antigen.
Cabinet has approved changes to close contact rules which will take effect from midnight tomorrow pic.twitter.com/Aut7JtLWHo
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) January 12, 2022
The isolation period for a positive case of Covid-19 has now reduced from 10 days to just seven.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says they'll be asked to log their antigen tests through an online portal:
"We'll have that up and running in the next few days. The HSE is working through the final logistics and technical requirements on it.
"It'll mean people can upload their positive antigen tests and they'll be able to upload their close contacts from the positive antigen test as well."
@benfinnegannews Ireland’s isolation rules are changing - follow for daily news videos #ireland #news #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #isolation #quarantine #virus #covid #covid19 #covidireland #asymptomatic ♬ original sound - benfinnegannews
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control issued new guidance on the quarantine for close contacts, and isolation for confirmed cases over the weekend.
It said, " this guidance aims to provide options for adapting quarantine and isolation, particularly when countries face high or extreme pressure on healthcare systems and other functions in society, including essential services."
However, the advice also added that "available scientific evidence to support any change to the existing quarantine and isolation guidance is currently limited."
🦠 1,055 Covid-positive patients in Irish hospitals today.
Down seven from yesterday - a drop for the second day in a row.
📈 13.6% higher than last Tuesday, and up 85.7% on two weeks ago. Growth slowing in the past two days.
🩺 92 in ICU (latest).
— Ben Finnegan (@_BenFinnegan) January 12, 2022
1,055 Covid-positive patients are in hospitals today, a drop of seven from yesterday.
The total is 13.6% higher than last Tuesday, however growth is slower than the past couple of days.
Latest figures show there's 92 people with the virus in ICU.
An employment law solicitor says NPHET needs to recommend employers be allowed ask their staff whether they're vaccinated.
Currently employees cannot be asked their vaccine status as it goes against GDPR legislation.
Solicitor Richard Grogan, who is very popular on TikTok for his advice, says relaxing close contact rules for vaccinated people won't be effective in the workplace, if employers can't ask about vaccinations.
"If NPHET come out and say yes you can ask questions.
"You can say to people 'I want to have you antigen tested', then in those situations that trumps the GDPR rules because it's a health emergency.
"That gets over a lot of the problems and will reduce an awful lot of disputes in workplaces."
