AQW 21337/17-22

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 02/07/2021
Answered On Date: 28/07/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to outline any plans he has to bring Northern Ireland in line with the rest of the UK by allowing self-isolation to end for a person that provides a negative COVID-19 test on the fifth day after re-entering Northern Ireland from abroad.

Answer:

The test and release scheme is a voluntary UK Government initiative in England whereby those who arrive from an amber list country can choose to pay for a private COVID-19 test on day 5, and end their period of self-isolation early if the test is negative.

Neither the NI, Scottish nor Welsh Governments have introduced a similar provision. In all other regions a full 10 day period of self-isolation is required unless exempt.

There are no plans at present to introduce such as scheme in Northern Ireland and the evidence supports a full 10 day’s isolation period. Recent provisions which remove the need for travellers fully vaccinated in the UK from the need to self-isolate on arrival from amber countries will undoubtedly assist travellers to NI from amber countries.