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.

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.

Changes have been made to the definition of a Covid close contact. Picture: Kevin Farmer

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.

CLOSE CONTACT Q&A

Q: If a person I served at a restaurant / shop / retail store tests positive, am I a close contact? Or what if I had dinner with my friend and they test positive, am I a close contact?
A: No. Close contacts will be defined as those who usually live with or who have stayed in the same household for more than four hours during their infectious period.

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

Originally published as Queensland’s Covid rules change: New isolation periods and close contact definition