The provincial spokesperson of the department of health, Mondli Mvambi, says the said two protocols are no longer necessary because people have now developed immunity.

The minister's advisory committee has recommended that "all contact tracing be stopped with immediate effect except in congregate settings and cluster outbreak situations or self-contained settings". 

Mvambi says the province aligns itself with the view of the committee and explains that doing contact tracing and quarantining is wasting resources, and instead vaccination is being encouraged. 

At least over one million people in the province have been vaccinated against Covid-19.

The ministerial advisory committee adds that "all contacts must continue with their normal duties with heightened monitoring (daily temperature testing and symptom screening) of any early signs. If they develop symptoms then they should be tested and be managed according to the severity of the symptoms.

"All contacts must not be tested unless if they develop symptoms. Quarantining is for contacts of confirmed cases of Covid-19."

It has further advised the immediate stop on Covid-19 quarantining. This applies to both vaccinated and unvaccinated contacts.

"No testing for Covid-19 is required irrespective of the risk exposure unless the contact becomes symptomatic," it further added.

OFM News