Catalonia to shorten quarantine for close contacts from 14 to 10 days starting next week

Starting next week, people in Catalonia who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 will only be required to self-isolate for 10 days, down from the 14 days that have been the standard thus far.

Public health secretary Josep Maria Argimon stated in an interview with public broadcaster TV3 on Tuesday that shortening quarantine could be "somewhat risky," but added that he believed it could "improve" compliance.

The Catalan health department had been considering the move for the past few weeks, and while Argimon admitted that 14-day quarantines would be ideal, after considering the risks and benefits of such a change decided to push ahead with the 10-day rule.

Although the number of daily cases and deaths has remained relatively stable over the past few weeks, the announcement comes as the transmission rate and outbreak risk in Catalonia have increased for the first time in weeks.

This rise has coincided with the beginning of the academic year on September 14. Indeed, as of Monday, there were already 303 classes at 218 schools in quarantine.