Premier Daniel Andrews ‘raring to go’ after Covid bout

Premier Daniel Andrews has revealed his Covid isolation period won’t be extended and he will return to work one week after he tested positive for the virus.

Premier Daniel Andrews will return to work on Monday after his week-long stint at home with Covid.

Deputy Premier James Merlino confirmed his boss would be back in the top job in time for parliament.

“He is raring to go,” Mr Merlino said.

Mr Andrews’ isolation period won’t be extended, despite his wife, Cath, and another family member picking up the virus while quarantining at home.

It comes after Opposition Leader Matthew Guy used his son’s Covid diagnosis to call for isolation changes for household contacts.

Mr Guy, who on Monday morning revealed he would spend the next seven days in isolation with his family, said it was time to rethink the rules because “half the state is in a semi-lockdown”.

It comes amid fears that some businesses won’t be able to operate over the Easter period due to staff shortages.

“I could be at work. I don’t feel sick at all but I’m isolating for a week … I’m negative, the other boys and (wife) Renee are all negative but that’s what Victorians are living with,” he told reporters in a press conference held over Zoom.

“I think you have to apply common sense. If you do a test and you’re negative, and you feel fine, then you should get on with life.

Matthew Guy with Liberal candidate for Nepean, Sam Groth. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“I just don’t see why in Victoria we’ve got thousands of people sitting at home who are constantly reporting negative tests and yet they’re sitting at home.

“We’ll never get on with our lives, we’ll never recover and rebuild if we have laws that say just because you live with someone who is unwell, you’re going to isolate forever. That’s just not common sense.

“The state government is still obsessed with making laws to hold us all back. It’s about time that we just recovered and got on with our lives. That’s the most sensible way forward.”

Mr Guy said he would continue working remotely throughout his isolation stint.

“It doesn’t stop now that I’ve got the ability to get on these Zooms,” he said.

“The coffee machine will get a year’s worth of work in one week, I suspect.”

Mr Guy released a statement on Tuesday confirming deputy Liberal leader David Southwick would take his place for the next seven days.

“This morning, one of my sons tested positive to Covid. My wife, my other two sons and I have returned a negative rapid test,” he said.

“This means as a close contact I will need to isolate for one week.

“I am planning to return to work on Tuesday, 5 April 2022. In the meantime, David Southwick will act as Leader of the Liberal Party.”

Mr Guy had been due to attend a media opportunity with candidate for Nepean, tennis star Sam Groth, in Dromana on Tuesday morning.

The event has now been cancelled.

Premier Daniel Andrews and his family at the premiere of Hamilton last Thursday. Picture: Mark Stewart

DANIEL ANDREWS ISOLATING WITH COVID

On Monday, Daniel Andrews revealed he had tested positive and was isolating.

The Premier issued a statement on Monday morning confirming he had contracted the virus and would be off work until Monday, April 4.

“After developing mild symptoms this morning including a sore throat and mild temperature, I undertook a rapid antigen test,” Mr Andrews said.

“I have tested positive to Covid-19 and will now isolate for the next seven days.”

He added: “We’re well stocked on Panadol — but I’ll definitely be resting up.”

The Andrews family attended the premiere of smash hit musical, Hamilton, at Her Majesty’s Theatre on Thursday.

On Monday, Mr Guy said it was his “sincere hope” the Premier was doing well.

“We may disagree politically but I certainly don’t wish him badly in any way in relation to his health,” he said.

“I hope he comes through OK. I hope his family are OK and I send my best wishes sincerely and personally to him, like any Victorian with Covid.

“It affects all of us differently. It’s my sincere hope that he and his family are fine. I send him my best wishes.”

It comes one year after the Premier slipped on stairs and fractured his back on the Mornington Peninsula, forcing him to take more than 100 days off to recover.

Mt Andrews recently indicated he was not ready to call time on his career in politics.

“I got fit and well to come back, not to piss off,” he said, referring to his recovery from the fall.

“I’ve got a lot to do … I’ll be here for as long as my colleagues and my community want me. It’s a great honour.”

Originally published as Premier Daniel Andrews ‘raring to go’ after Covid bout