Close contact rules changed amid supply crisis

A major change to isolation rules has been announced for some workers as Omicron continues to place extreme pressure on vital industries.

Victoria will provide more exemptions for close contacts in key industries as the number of people linked to Covid cases continues to surge.

From 11.59pm on Tuesday, employees in emergency services, education, transport, freight, custodial facilities and critical utilities will be eligible to return to work even if they live with a positive case.

The change follows similar rules applied to food distribution staff earlier in the week.

Both the employee and their employer must agree on their return to work and they must be fully vaccinated.

LIST OF APPLICABLE WORKERS

• Emergency Service: police, fire services and SES
• Prisons and custodial services
• Critical utilities: gas, electricity, water and waste disposal
• Freight and transport operators, including at ports and airports
• Primary, secondary and early childhood education
• Critical care services that support our most vulnerable

To reduce the spread of Covid, these workers must also take a rapid test for five days, wear a face mask at work, take lunch breaks in solo areas and isolate if they develop any symptoms.

The Department of Health has also changed its guidelines about workplace infections.

If five positive cases have been at a job site within seven days, they must alert the department.

Previously this was required if just one person on site had tested positive.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the government was also feeling the pressure of staff shortages.

He reiterated that at least 5000 healthcare workers were unable to work because of Covid restrictions.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the government was also feeling the pressure of staff shortages. Picture: Getty Images

Australian Industry Group boss Innes Willox is calling on the federal government to temporarily allow visa holders without work rights to be employed temporarily to help struggling businesses with staff shortages.

Scott Morrison and senior government ministers on Wednesday discussed the workforce challenges at a high-level meeting chaired by Emergency Management Australia director-general Joe Buffoneto.

A supply issue sign in the toilet paper section of the Coles in St Kilda. Picture: Aaron Francis

Concerns raised by business groups, the transport and health sectors about isolation requirements were also brought to the table, as well as an update on rapid antigen test supplies and contracting.

The Prime Minister said the rise in omicron cases, which is yet to peak, would have an impact right across supply chains.

Mr Morrison said it was important the group continue to solve problems across the transport, healthcare and aged care sectors, adding this would require a “fair bit of patience”.

“With so many people getting Covid, that is clearly going to take more and more people out of the workforce,” Mr Morrison said.

“The goal is to get as many people as safely at work, in these critical sectors, that keep Australian moving.

Supermarkets across Australia are facing a supply chain issue. Picture: David Crosling

“That is what riding this wave of Covid means.”

Broadening the relaxed isolation requirements for close contacts in additional essential industries is due to be finalised at national cabinet.

Leaders will also discuss employer’s work health and safety obligations, which Attorney-General Michaelia Cash has also been working on.

Mr Willox, who represents several industries, on Wednesday demanded “workable, consistent rules” for Covid testing, isolation and return to work.

“There remain different restrictions in different states that are preventing swathes of relatively low risk employees in critical sectors from going to work,” he said, adding work restrictions on temporary visa holders should also be lifted.

“If those without work rights or with limited work rights were allowed to work temporarily, this would address supply shortages and ease the stresses for many businesses.”

Mr Willox said aged care and disability sectors, agriculture, tourism, hospitality, supermarkets, distribution and food manufacturing facilities could all do with a helping hand.

“This temporary change to visas could be introduced immediately and reviewed when the omicron outbreak passes its peak,” he said.