Covid testing rules to change in Northern Ireland
Last updated 22nd Apr 2022
From Friday 22 April a range of Coronavirus testing rules are changing while testing sites across Northern Ireland are also set to close.
The Department of Health has said the changes are to deliver a “more targeted approach to test and trace focusing on protecting those at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19.”.
They include:
Where and how can I get a free test if I need one?
-Visit the NI Direct website (external link opens in a new window / tab) from tomorrow evening to check if you are eligible.
Who should still take a test?
What is happening with contact tracing?
Isolation guidance for household contacts is also changing
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Lourda Geoghegan said: “While prevalence of the virus remains high, the risk of serious illness has been significantly reduced – largely due to the success of our vaccination programme and the use of new COVID-19 treatments.
“As signalled in the Department’s Transition Plan, these changes are proportionate and necessary at this stage of the pandemic.
“Transmission of COVID-19 in health and social care settings remains a risk and adds to the demands and pressures on our workforce. Anyone visiting friends or family in these settings should continue to take a lateral flow test before their visit.”
Dr Geoghegan added:: “At this time it is important that we focus contact tracing services to help protect those at higher risk. Household contacts of a positive case are at greater risk of contracting the virus.
“Positive cases and their households will therefore continue to be provided with the necessary public health advice.
“It also remains vital that those at higher risk and who may be eligible for “COVID-19 treatments, take a lateral flow test as soon as symptoms develop, even if symptoms are mild, as treatments should commence quickly following a positive test result.
“I urge everyone to find out if they are eligible to access lateral flow tests under the new arrangements by visiting NI Direct. We should continue to protect those at higher risk by testing if we have symptoms and isolating if we receive a positive test result.”
Look back at Northern Ireland's Covid-19 journey ⬇️
December 2019
The first case of Covid-19 was discovered in Wuhan, China and reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in December 2019.
January 2020
Chinese state media reported the first known death from Covid-19 on 11 January 2020. The city of Wuhan was closed off by Chinese authorities on 23 January 2020, cancelling all transport entering and leaving the city. In January, the WHO also declared Covid-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
February 2020
February was when the virus started to receive real global recognition. It was officially named Covid-19 by WHO, and countries around the world started to report cases and deaths. Italy reported Europe's first major outbreak and had to use tents to treat surging numbers of patients as hospitals ran out of room.
March 2020
UK Governments introduced a national lockdown from 23 March 2020, instructing people to "Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives", after the UK reported its first official death from Covid-19 on 2 March 2020. Cities around the country appeared deserted. In late March the United States became the worst hit country with the most reported cases at that point.
April 2020
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was taken into intensive care with Covid-19 on 6 April 2020. Worldwide, cases topped one million and deaths passed 200,000. April also saw the first peak of the virus in the UK.
June 2020
England and Scotland made face coverings mandatory on public transport in June, while Northern Ireland and Wales followed suit in July. Face coverings then became mandatory in shops in each nation, with Scotland and England introducing the rule in July, Northern Ireland in August and Wales in September.
September 2020
In September, the official global death toll reached 1 million. However, the official figures are thought to greatly understate the number of people who have actually died from Covid-19. In the US alone, Covid-19 deaths surpassed 200,000.
December 2020
The UK became the first country in the world to approve a vaccine against Covid-19 for use in December. Vaccinations began on 8 December 2020, when 90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first person outside of a clinical trial to receive the jab. Later on in the month, the UK approved a second vaccine, developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. However, it wasn't all good news, as a new variant of Covid-19 was also discovered in December, which was much more transmissible than the original strain.
January 2021
In January 2021, the mass vaccine roll out began across the UK. However, all four nations all went back into full lockdown as the UK entered a second wave of the virus, with the peak surpassing that of the first wave in April.
February 2021
At the height of the third lockdown, the first cases of the South African variant came to dominate diagnosed Covid cases in the UK.
March 2021
March saw the one-year anniversary since the first lockdown. Stormont ministers met to discuss the first stage of lockdown restrictions easing, including the return to schools and 'click and collect' for non-essential items
April 2021
Northern Ireland was given a list of dates for reopening...
23rd April - Hairdressers and beauty salons, outdoor attractions, driving lessons and outdoor sport
30th April - Non-essential retail, self-contained tourist accommodation, outdoor hospitality
May 2021
The 'stay local' messaged was removed on May 24th as well as indoor hospitality and indoor gyms. The need for quarantine when traveling within the UK and Ireland was removed also.
June 2021
In June, the Delta variant – first discovered in India – became the dominant strain of coronavirus and drove a third wave in infections across the UK.
The NI Vaccination programme was ramped up, which included opening the SSE Arena for walk-in first time slots.
July 2021
Live music given the green light from July 5th.
As Northern Ireland enters a fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic, Health chiefs opened pop-up vaccination stations across Northern Ireland, including Custom House Square.
Department of Health launched a new COVIDCertNI app enabling users to show proof of vaccination for international travel.
August 2021
People who are close contacts of positive cases no longer had to isolate for 10 days, as long as they test negative and have had both jabs of a Covid-19 vaccine.
Northern Ireland recorded its highest number of daily Covid cases since start of pandemic - 2,397 confirmed cases
September 2021
While the number of confirmed Covid cases worldwide surpassed 7 million, the UK was emerging from the pandemic. The furlough scheme, brought in at the beginning of the pandemic, was formally ended – funding £70 billion of people's wages.
From Friday 10th September indoor gatherings of up to 15 from 4 households was allowed, table service removed, dancing was permitted at weddings, restrictions on music levels lifted and ticket requirements revoked.
October 2021
Nightclubs in Northern Ireland were allowed to reopen on October 31st.
Social distancing was scrapped within the hospitality sector.
November 2021
Cases began to rise across the world as the newly named Omicron variant spread rapidly across the world. Flights were stopped to southern African nations including South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
The Department of Health launched a new domestic use verification app, providing an easy way of checking NI Covid-19 vaccination 'domestic use' certificates.
December 2021
New restrictions came into place designed to suppress rising case numbers amid the spread of the Omicron variant. Working from home was advised, hospitality dropped back down to a max 6 people, LFD tests were taken before attending events.
January 2022
Lockdown restrictions brought in from Boxing day were eased on Jan 26th - including nightclubs reopening and the removal of table service.
There was a travel update too, fully vaccinated travellers arriving from non-red list countries into Northern Ireland no longer need to take a Covid-19 test or self-isolate.
February 2022
All remaining Covid-19 restrictions lifted across Northern Ireland on Tuesday 15th February 2022.
March 2022
Travellers are no longer required to take tests or complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF) arriving into Northern Ireland.
Read More:
All remaining covid-19 restrictions in NI to be lifted from tomorrow
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