The Saskatchewan government announced changes to the COVID-19 self isolation and close contact requirements on Thursday.

Effective on Friday, the self isolation period for people who test positive will be five days long, regardless of your vaccination status. Previously, unvaccinated individuals had to isolate for 10 days.

As well, the province announced that close contacts of positive cases, regardless of vaccination status, will no longer be required to self isolate at all.

If you are a close contact, the province encourages you to monitor for symptoms and use rapid tests.

Parents and caregivers are also no longer required to report positive test results to schools for close contact tracking, the province said.

Unvaccinated residents who tested positive or who are close contacts and are currently isolating may also be able to shorten their isolation period as of Friday at noon, as long as they are asymptomatic.

The province said all residents should be self-monitoring and testing to prevent the transmission of the Omicron variant. There are free rapid tests available at over 600 locations around Saskatchewan.

If you have mild cold-like symptoms, you are encouraged to stay home, test, and isolate if positive.

The province also encourages anyone experiencing significant or worsening symptoms to contact HealthLine 811 to determine whether they should get a PCR test.

The current public health order, which includes masking in all indoor public spaces, remains in effect.