In close contact

IF YOU ARE CONCERNED THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WITH COVID

Please read this link. You should be able to decide whether you were a CASUAL contact or a CLOSE contact. 

Even if you have been fully vaccinated, it is important to remember that you can still transmit the virus to others (but remain asymptomatic yourself), and also that vaccination is not successful in at least 5% of people.

For these reasons, if you become symptomatic or are identified as a close contact, then the same advice and restrictions that were previously in place still apply.

These guidelines are being updated regularly, so please continue to check back for new information.

This is only a guide but CASUAL contact can mean:

• spending less than 15 minutes of face-to-face contact within 2 metres of an infected person, indoor or outdoor
• being in the same room as an infected person for less than 2 hours
• being on public transport or an airplane with an infected person but not sitting near them
• Spending more than 2 hours in an indoor space with a person who has coronavirus will sometimes count as casual contact. This could be an office or a classroom. But it will depend on the size of the room and other factors. Public health teams who risk asses or contact tracers will let you know if you are at risk during contact tracing.

This is only a guide but CLOSE contact can mean:

• spending more than 15 minutes of face-to-face contact within 2 metres of someone who has coronavirus, indoor or outdoor
• living in the same house or shared accommodation as someone who has coronavirus
• sitting within 2 seats of someone who has coronavirus on public transport or an airplane
• Spending more than 2 hours in an indoor space with someone who has coronavirus will sometimes count as close or casual contact. This could be an office or a classroom. But it will depend on the size of the room and other factors. Public health doctors or contact tracers will let you know if you are at risk during contact tracing and public health risk assessments.
• If you are in contact with someone who has been in contact with someone else who has Covid, then you personally are NOT a close contact.

For more information please read this link. on the HSE website.

Household contacts

If you live with someone who has symptoms of coronavirus:

Restrict your movements for 14 days, even if you feel well. 

The person who has symptoms should behave as if they have coronavirus and:

• self-isolate immediately
• phone their GP
• The person you live with may be referred for a test for coronavirus.

If their test is positive you will become a close contact. You will need to continue to restrict your movements and get tested.

If their test is negative, you no longer need to restrict your movements. 

NATIONAL COVID TRACKER APP

All students MUST download Ireland’s national Covid tracker app. This will alert you if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid and will allow Public Health to contact you and advise you as to what you should do. You can find out more information and how to download it here, and details on how it works here.

It is very important to note that ALL RCSI student are classified as healthcare workers, and for reasons of public safety, the conditions attached to healthcare workers are more stringent than for the general public. This is laid out in this document.

In particular, in relation to CASUAL CONTACTS, the advice is as follows:  

 7.1.1. Casual contacts should undergo passive follow-up where they self-monitor for symptoms. You must do this by completing the daily health log on Moodle. 

7.2.1. No restriction on movement, interactions with others or work is advised

In relation to CLOSE CONTACTS, the advice is

6.1.1. Close contacts of a confirmed case may not remain at work and should restrict movements and undergo active follow-up.

6.1.10. If they remain asymptomatic throughout the monitoring period, they may return to work after 14 days.

In a nutshell, this means that if you are identified as being a close contact with a Covid positive individual, then you will not be allowed to attend ANY / ALL RCSI SITES for a period of 14 days from your last contact with that person.

It is extremely important that you minimise your risk of becoming a close contact by strictly following the advice in relation to limiting your contacts and social distancing. Please note that repeated 14 day exclusions from clinical placements is likely to have an impact on your ability to achieve the learning outcomes and progress on time.