Positive day five and day eight Covid-19 tests (FOI)

Request

Since 1 October 2020, how many cases have tested negative on the first test, but positive on the day five test? And how many have tested negative on both of those but positive on the day eight test?

Response

For swabs taken from 1 October to 31 October, a total of 13 cases have tested negative on the first test but positive on the day five test.

A further breakdown of the numbers of positives at day eight by their preceding test history (negative vs not swabbed) cannot be published as the numbers are too small and could lead to the identification of individuals. This information is therefore exempt under Article 25 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011.

In the case of contact tracing a direct contact does not always undergo a day 0 test – the first test may be a day five or day eight depending on the time elapsed between the contact with the positive (day 0) and identifying that they are a direct contact.

Articles Applied

Article 25 Personal information

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018.

(2) Information is absolutely exempt information if –

(a) it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018; and

(b) its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law.