Queensland’s Covid rules change: New isolation periods and close contact definition
New Covid rules have started in Queensland, with changes to isolation periods and the definition of a close contact.
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Queensland has adopted a nationally-agreed definition of a Covid-19 close contact and isolation periods for people who have tested positive.
On Thursday, the Prime Minister confirmed a meeting of the national cabinet had agreed to a narrowed definition of contacts for Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT.
Close contacts will be defined, except in exceptional circumstances, as a household contact of a confirmed case.
A household contact is someone who lives with a confirmed case or has spent more than four hours with them in a house, accommodation or care facility setting.
Close contacts must isolate for seven days from the date of exposure to a confirmed case and have a negative rapid antigen test on day six.
Symptomatic close contacts must get a PCR test.
Meanwhile, confirmed cases will need to isolate for seven days from the day they test positive, take a rapid antigen test on day six and return a positive negative before leaving isolation.
Other contacts who have been potentially exposed to a case but who are at lower risk of infection must monitor for symptoms and only need to have a Covid test if symptoms occur.
There may be exceptional circumstances where a person who isn’t a household contact is deemed a close contact by a health worker.
If a contact’s rapid antigen test is positive, it should be followed by a PCR test to confirm the positive result.
All contacts should:
- wear a mask when outside home
- monitor symptoms
- avoid visiting high risk settings, like aged care or hospitals, for 14 days following exposure
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