WELLINGTON, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- New Zealanders who are fully vaccinated will now spend less time isolating if they get COVID-19 or are a close contact of a case, a senior health official said on Tuesday.

The isolation period for fully vaccinated COVID-19 cases in the community has been reduced from 14 days to 10 days, and must include 72 hours symptom-free, Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall said in a statement.

The isolation period for partially vaccinated or unvaccinated COVID-19 cases will remain 14 days, including 72 hours symptom-free, Verrall said.

"If you are vaccinated and catch COVID-19, by day 10 of infection you will pose a very low risk of passing on the virus -- and do not need to isolate for as long as someone who's unvaccinated," she said.

That's because the amount of viral, genetic material declines faster in fully vaccinated people, she explained.

"Vaccination also helps prevent a person with COVID-19 from becoming seriously ill and reduces the likelihood they'll end up in hospital. It is the greatest protection we have against the virus," Verrall said.

Under the changes, household contacts of a COVID-19 case will self-isolate for 10 days regardless of vaccination status, because this group is at the highest risk of contracting the virus, she said, adding this change reflects the different transmission dynamic of the Delta variant.

Meanwhile, close contacts who are fully vaccinated need to self-isolate for seven days, and close contacts who are partially vaccinated or not vaccinated need to self-isolate for 10 days, according to Verrall.

To be fully vaccinated, it needs to be seven days or more since you had your second dose of the vaccine, according to the ministry. Enditem

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