Covid-19 isolation and testing rules in 2025: What you need to know
Do you still have to isolate if you get Covid?
Photo:
FANATIC STUDIO / SCIENCE PHOTO L
Explainer
- We know, nobody wants to think about Covid these days if you can help it.
However, it's still out there, and a recent surge in cases and a persistent new variant are driving a new wave of concern.
We're a long way from lockdowns and mandates, but are you still required to isolate and how can you do testing? RNZ is here with what you need to know.
Nope, and with winter weather and influenza as well, it's a good time to remember how to take a few precautions for yourself and others.
There has been a
sharp jump in Covid and other respiratory infections including influenza
in the past few weeks.
Yet
another new variant, NB.1.8.1, has also developed
and become the dominant strain in Asia and is rising quickly in Australia and New Zealand.
It has been about a year since the last large wave of Covid cases, and University of Otago epidemiologist Dr Amanda Kvalsvig said many people have become complacent.
"To those of us watching the Covid evidence closely, it's clear that NZ is under-reacting to this virus and unprepared for a winter wave," she said.
It is still strongly recommended to isolate for at least five days if you test positive, even if your symptoms are mild.
"This is to prevent spreading Covid-19 to other people,"
Health New Zealand says
. "You would start your isolation at Day 0 - this is the day your symptoms started or when you tested positive, whichever came first."
University of Otago epidemiologist Dr Amanda Kvalsvig.
Photo:
Amanda Kvalsvig
Dr Kvalsvig said a
New Zealand study in 2023
estimated that even with a five-day isolation period, around two in five people were still potentially infectious at the end of that time.
"So five days of isolation is really an absolute minimum. To protect those around us, we should all take extra precautions for a few more days, such as wearing a mask and delaying visiting friends and family members who might be vulnerable."
All legal mandates to isolate were
dropped in 2023
, but there are still strong recommendations in place.
"I do think people are less cautious now regarding the Covid-19 virus," said Dr Joan Ingram, medical advisor at the University of Auckland's Immunisation Advisory Centre. "To an extent that is to be expected now that most of us have some hybrid immunity from both immunisations and previous infection with the virus."
Still, Covid remains a serious illness for many, she said.
"So it is sensible and considerate for those with Covid-19 to stay away from others, especially for the first few days of the illness when they are more likely to spread the virus."
"When I have Covid-19, I stay in a room away from others and stay home until my tests are negative.
"We also need to recommend this for other respiratory infections, such as influenza. Think of others and keep your infections away from others if possible. Going to crowded, poorly ventilated settings when you are coughing and sneezing is unhelpful and inconsiderate. Consistently wear a mask if you do have to be near others."
RAT tests are no longer free but still widely available.
Photo:
AFP
You do not need a negative RAT result to return to work or school, but use common sense and talk with your employer before rocking up sneezing and coughing.
"Employers should support employees to isolate in line with health guidance,"
Employment New Zealand says
.
"Asking a worker to come to work while sick could put the health of other workers at risk, and result in further disruption."
For many families who are struggling, staying away from work may be difficult but a good employer can help, Dr Kvalsvig said.
"Employers that ensure good indoor air quality, provide test kits for their employees, and support staying home when sick are likely to see multiple benefits with reduced levels of sickness absence and Long Covid."
The Covid-19 leave support scheme, which helped employers pay employees who had to self-isolate due to the virus,
ended in August 2023
.
"Many still aren't well enough to be at work or school when their five-day isolation period is over," Dr Kvalsvig said.
"Resting well is an important part of recovery from Covid and it would be good to see employers and schools supporting people to take an appropriate amount of sickness absence."
Unfortunately, free rapid antigen tests (RATs) provided by the government
ended in September 2024
.
The typical cost of a RAT test is around $5, or multipacks of 5 can be had for under $20 at pharmacies and other markets.
When the free tests were dropped
there were concerns
the move would hit low-income people harder.
Many people may still have stockpiles of expired RAT tests in their cupboard.
Ingram said it is best to get an unexpired test, but one can
check the American FDA's website
for an idea of the total shelf life of certain tests.
Photo:
Supplied / ESR
Reported case numbers dropped starting in 2022 and "it's never really recovered," Dr Kvalsvig said.
"Unfortunately, people were not testing or reporting much even when RAT tests were free," Dr Ingram said. "It would be good if they were still freely available, but I am not sure how much it would change the reporting."
However,
wastewater testing
by crown research institute ESR
has shown a large leap in SARS-CoV-2 traces
in recent months. Its figures show a dramatic rise in the past month in wastewater testing samples compared to reported case numbers.
The Auckland region shows an even more dramatic spike in wastewater levels.
Photo:
Supplied / ESR
"Wastewater levels are currently the best indicator we have of community cases," Dr Kvalsvig said.
"We're very lucky that the team at ESR are providing this vital information and there's a huge amount of hard work going on behind the scenes to analyse the variants and make sense of the data. We would be in a very difficult situation without this information, with no early warning of Covid waves and no idea about what variants might be spreading."
New Zealand still needs more community-driven reporting, such as the
Well Kiwis
studies, she said.
You can still report your own RAT test results through
my.health.nz
.
Yes, Covid vaccines
are available free
for everyone aged 5 and over.
However, if you've already had a vaccine and booster, as most people have by now, generally only those over age 30 are able to get multiple boosters, at least 6 months apart.
Younger people can get additional doses if they are at risk of severe illness - see Health NZ's website for the full rundown.
Influenza also remains a big concern and people should get their annual vaccinations, Dr Ingram said.
"The US had more influenza hospitalisations over their recent winter than they have had since the 2010-2011 season, so I urge all people (including children) to have an influenza immunisation even if they are healthy."
Flu vaccines are
free for people aged 65 and over
, pregnant women and those with some pre-existing conditions.
Otherwise the vaccine runs between $25 to $45, Health NZ says.
Covid is likely here to stay in some form, epidemiologists have said. But as always, the disease remains changing.
"Covid is more manageable now and we have better strategies and tools in the toolbox: we just need to use them," Dr Kvalsvig said.
"Aside from staying home when sick, clean indoor air and good quality masks are highly effective protections that NZ has been really slow to pick up. Once we do, we'll never want to go back to the same level of sickness we experience each winter."
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