Health Min. circular states booster required to be considered fully-vaccinated if over 20

The Health Ministry yesterday issued circulars, revising several guidelines, including the definition of fully-vaccinated persons, exit strategy for COVID-19 patients, and criteria for the identification of a close contact of a COVID-19 patient.

A circular issued by Health Services Director General Dr. Asela Gunawardena on the exit strategy for COVID-19 patients and contacts states that persons over 20 years will be considered fully vaccinated if they have completed two weeks since the second dose of a recommended COVID-19 vaccine. However, if they received the second dose at least three months ago and have not yet received the booster dose, they will not be considered fully vaccinated.

Persons over 20 years who contracted COVID-19 after receiving their second dose can receive the booster dose three months after the second dose and one month after infection.

Persons between 16 and 19 years will be considered fully vaccinated if they have completed two weeks since the second dose, while children between 12 and 15 years will be considered fully vaccinated two weeks after a single vaccine dose.

Fully-vaccinated persons who are close contacts of a COVID-19 patient need not quarantine if they do not have symptoms of COVID-19. However, they must undergo a PCR or RAT if they develop symptoms.

Close contacts who are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated can be released from home quarantine seven days after PCR or RAT positivity or the onset of symptoms. If, during quarantine, they develop COVID-19 symptoms, persons must get tested and inform the area MOH if they test positive on a PCR or RAT.

A circular was also issued by Health Services Director General Dr. Asela Gunawardena on the criteria of a close contact.

A person must make face-to-face contact with a probable or confirmed case within one metre for at least 15 minutes, have direct physical contact with a probable or confirmed case, directly care for a probable or confirmed case without the use of the recommended PPE, or be in any other situation as indicated by local risk assessments.

Exposure must take place within two days before and five days after the onset of symptoms if the patient is symptomatic and two days before and five days after the sample that led to the COVID-19 positive result was taken if the patient is asymptomatic.

In an indoor classroom setting, the student need not undergo quarantine if they were beyond one metre of the infected student, there is no face-to-face contact and both students were wearing a face mask.

Unvaccinated students will be required to quarantine if they fit the definition of a close contact.

In terms of the exit strategy for COVID-19 patients, an exit PCR or RAT is not required for COVID-19 patients admitted to a treatment facility. They can be released seven days after test positivity if they have improved from mild or moderate symptoms and have been fever-free for 48 hours.

COVID-19 patients under the home-care management system can be released seven days after test positivity or the onset of symptoms if they have improved from mild or moderate symptoms and have been fever-free for 48 hours. An exit PCR or RAT is not required.

However, if a COVID-19 patient at a treatment facility or under the home-care management system has not improved from mild or moderate symptoms and has not been fever free for 48 hours, they must contact the MOH of the area for medical advice on further management.