Opposition’s plan to put close contact critical workers back on the job

Victoria’s healthcare and supply chain industries have been crippled by Covid, but the state opposition hopes this bold plan will ease the pain.

Victoria has been overrun by testing chaos. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Critical healthcare and supply chain workers deemed close contacts would return to work earlier under a bold new push by the state opposition.

Under current health orders people living with a confirmed case are required to isolate at home for seven days regardless of whether they have tested negative.

But a new plan by the Victorian Liberal Nationals – which mirrors policy currently implemented in Britain – would allow negative household contacts to leave quarantine and return to work.

The proposal would only apply to those who work in the healthcare sector or in vital supply chains. They would be required to take a rapid test every day for seven days and isolate if any of those tests are positive.

It comes after Victoria reported a record 51,356 new cases on Saturday, with 26,428 of those being from rapid tests throughout the past week.

They were only made known to the Department of Health when a new online portal opened on Friday for Victorians to upload their positive results.

On Sunday, Victoria announced 44,155 new cases and four more deaths.

The health department said 22,051 of the new cases were detected on RATs and 22,104 were PCR test results.

Over recent weeks, the state’s testing system has become completely overwhelmed as the lack of rapid antigen tests leaves too many critical healthcare and supply chain workers isolating in limbo.

Empty supermarket shelves in Melbourne. Picture: Twitter/Cathy O’Malley

Shoppers have again been slapped with purchasing limits.

It has resulted in empty shelves and purchase limits as Covid-related absences have reached more than 20 per cent of distribution centre and 10 per cent of retail staff in local supermarkets.

Alfred Health on Friday urged patient-facing staff to postpone leave scheduled from now to late February amid mass staff shortages.

Chief executive Andrew Way said about 7 per cent of Alfred Health’s workforce was confirmed to have the virus, and many others were on leave due to household exposures.

With the current wave expected to run for another six to eight weeks, Professor Way said it was expected 10 to 15 per cent of staff would be unavailable to work during the peak.

“I know so many of you need time to rest and recuperate, and that would be my wish for you, however maintaining sufficient staffing is our greatest current challenge,” he said.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said that without a real solution, Victorian families would be denied basic healthcare and daily essentials.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy is pushing for the changes. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“Current isolation requirements are unworkable and have left families struggling to get the basic healthcare and everyday items they need,” Mr Guy said.

“This commonsense change will help keep shelves stocked and hospitals staffed so local communities can recover and rebuild.”

It’s a move Victorian Transport Association chief executive Peter Anderson wants implemented for transport workers.

“A transport worker who is a close contact and returns a negative test should not have to quarantine,” he said. “They should be allowed to go straight back to work.”

Mr Anderson said he “fully endorsed” the TWU’s call for the industry’s workers to be given priority for rapid antigen tests.

Health Minister Martin Foley said the new reporting system provided authorities with a “realistic picture of transmission in the community”.

“We knew there were undiagnosed cases out there,” he said.