NSW Health accused of overreacting with recent Covid isolation rules

Health officials in NSW have been accused of overreacting after ordering hundreds of people into isolation just before Christmas.

A lonely Christmas locked inside could still be a reality for NSW residents with a return of strict health policies despite a record vaccination rate.

Freedom is still not guaranteed with NSW Health accused of over-reacting by putting hundreds of people in isolation for an entire week simply for being present in the same venue as an Omicron case.

Guidelines on the NSW Health website state close contacts as people who met a positive case for “15 minutes or more in an indoor environment without a mask”.

But authorities are departing from the more relaxed approach introduced after the state came out of lockdown to revert to a strict stance where each venue is at risk of having every patron forced to isolate for a week.

NSW officials say they want to take a look at who is considered a close contact. Picture: Monique Harmer

The tightening of isolation rules comes as an easing of restrictions on Wednesday will allow unvaccinated people to enter venues such as pubs and restaurants.

Infectious Diseases expert Professor Peter Collignon said with boosters being rolled out rapidly and no indication of rocketing hospitalisations and deaths, creating large pools of close contacts was an overkill.

“It (Omicron) spreads more than Delta, but the consequences aren’t more than Delta. Some people are even putting 14 days of quarantine on people in other jurisdictions. We should treat it the same as Delta,” he said.

“We have to be careful not to overreact.”

Pub bosses have also called for more certainty after recent positive cases caused mass isolation.

The Argyle House in Newcastle, where 84 people have returned a positive test for Omicron.

The Oxford Tavern in Petersham has been declared a Covid hotspot after more than 40 people who attended a pub trivia night tested positive. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

On Monday, 680 people at The Argyle House nightclub in Newcastle were forced to stay home for an entire week, narrowly missing a holiday lockdown, after 84 patrons tested positive.

NSW Health also advised late on Monday that anyone who attended Finnegan’s Hotel in Newcastle, from 6.30pm Friday 10 December to 2.30am Saturday 11 December is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 7 days.

All household contacts of close contacts must also be tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received by everyone in the household.

NSW Health is urgently contacting anyone who attended Finnegan’s Hotel at these times and checked in via the QR code and is directing them and members of their households to immediately get tested and follow public health advice.

Anyone who did not check in using the QR code to urgently get tested and isolate.

There are other places where close contacts have been identified from over the weekend.

Anyone who attended the Oxford Tavern in Petersham at the same time as a positive case on November 30 was considered a close contact and had to isolate for seven days.

And all 140 who attended a party on a Sydney Harbour cruise on December 3 were also told to isolate after several revellers tested positive to Omicron.

Case numbers remained high on Monday with 536 new cases, but Prof Collignon said a seven-day isolation was not warranted given the 93 per cent vaccination rate that is being enhanced with the rollout of the booster shots.

“What do you call a close contact? 700 people? We need to really look at who we define as close contact. You want people with a chance of a few per cent or more of catching Covid to warrant a close contact.”

Inside the super-spreading harbour party cruise in Sydney where five Omicron cases have emerged. Picture: Nine News

Australian Hotels Association NSW liquor and policing director John Green said businesses needed more certainty around health protocols to positive cases.

“There have been Covid outbreaks in schools, gyms, hospitality venues and private homes. With indications Omicron may lead to even lower hospitalisations, we have to learn to live with this virus,” he said.

“Hotels continue to have Covid-safe practices in place, and we’ll continue working closely with NSW Health as we manage the ongoing effects of this pandemic on business.”