Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Covid-19: Isolation period for fully vaccinated persons and children under 12 cut from 10 to 7 days

SINGAPORE — The isolation period for fully vaccinated individuals infected with Covid-19, as well as children below 12 years old, will be shortened from 10 to seven days. 

A man doing a self-administered antigen rapid test for Covid-19.

A man doing a self-administered antigen rapid test for Covid-19.

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

SINGAPORE — The isolation period for fully vaccinated individuals infected with Covid-19, as well as children below 12 years old, will be shortened from 10 to seven days. 

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said that it was making the changes to its Covid-19 health protocols in light of studies from the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) showing that the Omicron coronavirus strain has a shorter infectious period than the Delta variant.

The shortened isolation period would apply to infected individuals placed on Protocol 1 and 2, it said in a media statement on Friday (Jan 21). 

The maximum isolation period for unvaccinated individuals aged 12 years old and above will remain at 14 days for both Protocols 1 and 2.

In October last year, MOH set out three protocols for three main scenarios that people may encounter.

  • Protocol 1: For those feeling unwell and having tested positive for Covid-19 
  • Protocol 2: For those feeling well and having tested positive for Covid-19
  • Protocol 3: For those found to be a close contact of an infected person

Since Jan 6, these protocols were further streamlined, where infected persons with mild symptoms may undergo home recovery and resume normal activities after 72 hours, or three days, if they test negative — provided that they are assessed by a doctor to be suitable for such a recovery programme.

MOH said on Friday that it will also allow children aged between five and 11 to come under Protocol 2 if they test positive and are not showing any symptoms, regardless of their vaccination status. 

"We urge those with non-emergency conditions, including children, to avoid seeking treatment at hospitals and to consult their primary care doctor instead." 

Covid-19 patients under Protocol 1 who are recovering well and have improving symptoms will also be allowed to transit to Protocol 2.

"This means that they can be discharged earlier and return to normal activities if they test negative on a self-administered antigen rapid test taken 72 hours or more after their first positive Covid-19 test." 

MOH said that the changes will be progressively put in place in the next couple of weeks, where all low-risk patients without symptoms who are in Protocol 1 settings can move to Protocol 2, so long as their medical conditions allow it.

This includes those in Covid-19 treatment facilities, or were tested positive during a pre-departure test, at a pre-event testing, rostered routine testing, mandatory traveller tests and tests taken at the end of stay-home notice periods.

    Related topics

    Covid-19 coronavirus Covid-19 testing antigen rapid test MOH children

    Read more of the latest in

    Advertisement

    Advertisement

    Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

    Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

    By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.