Asymptomatic boosted close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case will no longer have to restrict movements, under plans going to Cabinet on Wednesday.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will also propose those in certain age groups with a positive antigen test will no longer have to get a PCR test to confirm the result.

The isolation period for those who test positive is also to be set for everyone at seven days - regardless of their booster status.

Minister Donnelly told The Hard Shoulder he has received the updated public health advice, and will be recommending it is approved.

He says the current requirement for people in certain groups to get a confirmatory PCR test after a positive antigen test is to be be dropped.

"The recommendation is that confirmatory PCR tests would be removed - I think that's very positive.

"It makes it easier for people, they don't have to go and get a second test, and it frees up some of the pressure on the PCR system as well."

On isolation periods, currently those who are boosted have to isolate for seven days - and those who are unboosted for 10 days.

Minister Donnelly says: "The recommendation is that it just becomes seven days for everybody.

"So essentially if you test positive, you haven't had your immunity boosted, the isolation period - the recommendation is - it's being reduced from 10 days to seven days.

"I think that'll be well received as well."

'No restricted movement'

And on close contacts, he says they really want to free up people.

"We really want to try and ease the burden on people, we're very very aware of how difficult it is for people themselves, for their employers, for their communities with so many people being asked to restrict their movement if they're a close contact."

Currently close contacts with a booster have to restrict movements for five days.

"That requirement would go completely: so no restricted movement if you have boosted immunity", Minister Donnelly says.

"The recommendation is still obviously that there is regular antigen testing for several days.

"That during the period, people wear the higher-grade masks... the medical or the respirator masks.

"On the basis that we've now administered nearly two and a half million boosters, and then there's another many hundreds of thousands every week who are testing positive for COVID, that's going to effect an awful lot of people in the country and I think it'll be very very welcome."

And he says the changes to the close contact advice will also apply to those who have not been boosted - but have had COVID in the last three months.

"The way the public health guys talk about that is you've boosted immunity if you've had your booster, obviously.

"Or there's a lot of people who've had their first two vaccinations, and they've had COVID within the last three months - which means they're not eligible for the booster yet - they're also included in that.

"So that's millions and millions of people now in the country - essentially no restricted movement".

He says the rules will come into force "pretty soon", which the Cabinet will discuss on Wednesday.