The Ministry of Health and Wellness has advised that coronavirus (COVID-19) testing will be prioritised for people who have symptoms in keeping with the viral illness, and for people regarded as primary contacts of COVID-19 cases.
This decision is being made “in recognition of the large numbers of persons who have come forward for testing who do not need to be”, the ministry said in a statement.
“These primary contacts are defined as people who were in close contact with persons known to be positive for COVID-19 (confirmed by a lab test), at a distance of less than six feet, for a period of more than 15 minutes without wearing a mask.
“Such persons, once identified through contact tracing, will be quarantined and tested.”
The ministry said anyone who has been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case should contact the polyclinic, or call the COVID-19 hotline at 536-4500.
A secondary contact is defined as “anyone who was in contact with a primary contact”. Secondary contacts are not required to get tested or be quarantined.
Only if the primary contact becomes positive would the secondary contact then be considered as a primary contact, and should be tested. (BGIS/MOHW)
