As of: 05/02/2022 3:54 p.m
Corona infected people should isolate themselves for five days in the future. According to Health Minister Lauterbach, the obligation to then test oneself freely should no longer apply. However, a negative test is strongly recommended. Not all countries want to follow that.
With the prescribed isolation for corona infected people of five days in the future, a final negative test should be urgently recommended. According to Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach, this is what the new Corona guidelines provide for. There is no obligation to take a test – as was the case up to now.
Overall, Lauterbach spoke of a “solution with a sense of proportion”. He explained that the isolation could be shortened to five days based on the shorter course of the disease in the current omicron variant BA.2. So far, secretions usually last ten days and can end prematurely with a negative test after seven days.
Test for health workers still mandatory
For infected staff in the healthcare sector, however, such a “free test” should continue to be mandatory. Lauterbach also confirmed that the isolation for infected people should continue to be ordered by the health authorities. This gives the signal that Corona is not a flu or a cold.
If someone approaches people infected, “then they are actually endangering their lives,” said Lauterbach. In the decision that has now been made, he spoke overall of a “solution with a sense of proportion”.
The concrete implementation of the rules according to the recommendation of the RKI and the Federal Ministry of Health is up to the federal states.
Bavaria: “General recommendation not planned”
Several countries had already signaled that they did not want to support a general recommendation for free testing. “We see the question of free testing a little differently than the Federal Minister of Health,” said Bavaria’s Health Minister Klaus Holetschek. A fundamental and general recommendation to test yourself after the end of isolation if you are symptom-free is not planned in Bavaria, Holetschek told the Düsseldorf “Rheinische Post”.
The shortened five-day isolation period has been in effect in Bavaria since mid-April. Holetschek pointed out that you have to be symptom-free 48 hours before the end of the isolation. However, Bavaria recommends wearing a mask for a while afterwards.
Among other things, Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse also wanted to do the same, said Holetschek. On the other hand, there is agreement on facilities such as hospitals and care facilities. The vulnerable groups must continue to be protected “and are the focus of our efforts,” emphasized the CSU politician.