Media still don’t get difference b/w 14 day quarantine & isolation. 14 days is for those w/ 1st test -ve & is covid incubation period so must stay 2 wks to ensure not +ve later. If 1st test +ve, isolation can be shorter, leave after 10 days if no symptoms for 3 days #covid19Vic

This was old national protocol, & included no 2nd test for +ve cases as long as >3 days with no symptoms & at least 10 days total isolation. This was because many people continue to shed virus later, when not infectious, so 2nd test not informative.

National Cabinet has now changed guidelines, with new UK virus strain that is more infectious. So now minimum 14 days quarantine for all in hotel quarantine.

All positive cases in hotel quarantine will now be sequenced, so genomic data will show strain. All +ve cases will also be tested at end of 14 day isolation or longer if still symptomatic. If still +ve, panel will decide if low +ve (non-infectious) or still at risk of infectious.

It’s likely the panel will also take into account the strain that people have tested positive for, and may be more cautious in ending isolation if people are still shedding low/intermediate levels of the more transmissible UK or South African variants of the virus.