Huge change to Covid isolation rules in Victoria and NSW

NSW and Victoria are preparing to make major changes to isolation requirements for household contacts of Covid-positive people.

Victoria and NSW are expected to scrap isolation requirements for household contacts of people with Covid within days.

The rules could be rewritten as soon as this weekend, with the Omicron wave believed to be past its peak.

The change would mean Australians who live with infected people will not have to isolate for seven days. People who contract Covid will still need to isolate for a week.

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley is expected to announce changes in his state within days, with NSW expected to follow suit.

Shoppers wear face masks in the Sydney CBD. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

A spokesman for the NSW government said: “The NSW Government is working through these and will make further changes if it is satisfied that the safety of the community is given priority.”

The imminent overhaul comes in response to pressure on state governments in both Victoria and NSW to relax their Covid rules.

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews hinted on Tuesday that the rules could soon change.

“The seven-day average, very pleasingly, is coming down. So that says to me that the peak has come and gone.

“I’m not the chief health officer but that says to me that the peak has come and gone.

“We just have to wait and see, though, that those few days of data turns into the trend that we hope it is.”

Covid cases in NSW have fallen to an average of 14,000 daily infections, with 1,600 people in hospital.

The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee last week called for Covid restricitons to be relaxed.

Some industries are already exempt from some isolation rules, such as aviation and airport workers.

Originally published as Huge change to Covid isolation rules in Victoria and NSW