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Recommended COVID-19 testing advice for household contacts of a positive COVID-19 person is changing, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora has confirmed today.
Household contacts of a positive COVID-19 person who do not have COVID-19 symptoms themselves, are no longer recommended to test daily for 5 days with a rapid antigen test (RAT).
Only household contacts who develop one or more COVID-19 symptoms are recommended to stay at home and RAT test for COVID-19.
“This change in advice for household contacts aligns with broader public health guidance that advises RAT testing is generally not recommended unless a person has COVID-19 symptoms,” says Becky Jenkins, Director Protection, National Public Health Service.
“This is because a person who is symptomatic will get a more reliable RAT result.”
Public health guidance advises if a person tests negative with a RAT but their COVID-19 symptoms persist, they should continue to stay at home and test again in 24 and 48 hours.
If at any point someone tests positive, it is then recommended they isolate for at least 5 days, starting at Day 0 – even if they only have mild symptoms and they have had COVID-19 before.
On 31 January 2024, Health NZ confirmed free RATs for COVID-19 testing would continue to be available to the public and health and disability sector up until the end of June 2024.
Mrs Jenkins says, “With COVID-19 still circulating in the community and continuing to impact hospital admission rates, testing for COVID-19 with RATs remains an important tool to help manage the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the impact on our health system and our communities.
“We strongly encourage people to make the most of the continued free access to RATs, and to keep testing if they feel unwell or think they may have COVID-19.”
Participating RAT collection sites can be found at www.healthpoint.co.nz or by calling free on 0800 222 478 and choosing option 1.
No decisions have been made regarding the supply of RATs beyond June 2024.
All other public health recommendations for the management of COVID-19 remain unchanged.
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