COVID-19 asymptomatic isolation cut to five days

THE isolation periods for COVID-positive cases will reduce from seven days to five for asymptomatic people.

National Cabinet agreed to the changes this week after Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd provided an update on the pandemic and outlined strategies for combating potential COVID-19 waves.

However, seven days’ isolation remains for workers in high-risk settings including aged care, disability care and provision of home care.

“I believe, and first ministers agreed, that on the weight of evidence this was a proportionate response at this point in the pandemic,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in Canberra.

“These changes will come into effect from September 9, with the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment eligibility to reflect the changed isolation periods, effective the same date.

National Cabinet also agreed to remove the mandatory wearing of masks on domestic flights. This change will also come into effect on the same day.

Asked if he expected that five days will still be in existence at the end of the month, Mr Albanese said “that’s part of the discussion that we are having”.

“We had a discussion about people looking after each other, people looking after their own health, people being responsible for that and making sure that they look after each other,” he said. “That is what has been happening.

“There aren’t mandated requirements for the flu or for a range of other illnesses that people suffer from. And what we want to do is to make sure that government responds to the changed circumstances.

“COVID is likely going to be around for a considerable period of time. And we need to respond appropriately to it, based upon the weight of evidence.”