As Covid-19 numbers reach record levels, keeping essential services going and as many businesses as possible open is becoming challenging. This has led the Government to ask Nphet to look at the rules governing close contacts and the period of isolation they need to keep. These rules were tightened before Christmas, but there is a case now to reexamine them, while ensuring that public health is safeguarded.
Adjusting the isolation requirements is not straightforward – many countries are doing so but there is no common approach. Here, there is an exemption for healthcare workers who are asymptomatic and test negative, though education minister Norma Foley has said she is not considering a similar regime for teachers.
Nphet will look at the options but there would seem to be a case to consider changing the rules for people who are fully vaccinated, including having a booster shot, do not have symptoms and show negative on an antigen test. Given the wide roll-out of the booster programme, this should have a significant impact on absenteeism. Some shortening of the isolation period for those who have not had a booster – currently 10 days – may also be appropriate.
Trade unions are urging caution and ICTU’s call to convene the Covid-19 stakeholders’ forum, which includes representatives from all the main sectors, is appropriate. But there is a real risk of essential services and businesses having to restrict operations severely over the next few weeks and consideration is needed on how to address this, while also maintaining employee safety.
As with so much relating to Covid-19 policy, there are no “right” answers and a need to keep rules and advice under review. Changes to travel rules also look reasonable, given the high level of infection circulating here. The wider issue of reopening offices and adjusting advice more generally as Omicron abates will provide more difficult calls. In doing this, we need to learn from experience – and from previous mistakes – and realise that vaccination alone will not be enough to control the virus for the foreseeable future.