Independent MP slams Covid rule change as ‘disturbing’

One prominent MP has slammed National Cabinet’s latest decision on Covid measures.

Independent Dr Monique Ryan has described the announcement that Covid-19 isolation requirements will be scrapped as “deeply disturbing”, and has demanded that the federal government to release information on how the decision was made.

“It is deeply concerning that National Cabinet has essentially abandoned all the measures in place to minimise COVID 19 infection and reinfection,” she said in a statement.

Dr Ryan said that the health advice provided to National Cabinet “must be made available for public scrutiny”.

Dr Monique Ryan has spoken out about the government's decision.

“The National Cabinet must not pretend the decision to scrap mandatory COVID 19 isolation is evidence based,” she said on Twitter

The Member for Kooyong then went on to say that it was “unclear if the decision to scrap isolation requirements was considered by the Health Advisory Committee”.

“The only advice made public is that of CMO Paul Kelly.”

Dr Ryan said that there would be “significant impacts” following the removal of the isolation requirement on the work force and local economies.

“The reality is that without mandatory isolation, many people will return to work while they are sick and infectious with COVID 19, either because employers force their staff to attend work or because workers are unable to take sick leave.”

An infectious diseases expert has unloaded on an “illogical and uninformed” national cabinet for agreeing to scrap mandatory Covid-19 isolation.

From October 14, Australians will no longer be required to quarantine if they test positive to Covid-19 if they do not work in an aged care facility or a hospital.

Chief medical officer Paul Kelly recommended the change following a substantial decrease in new cases and ICU admissions.

Paul Kelly outlined his reasoning for the end to mandatory isolation. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“It does not in any way suggest that the pandemic is finished; we will almost certainly see peaks of the virus into the future, as we have seen earlier in this year,” he said.

Burnet Institute director Brendan Crabb said the “bizarre decision” marked a “pretty dark day” for Australia.

“It’s a disappointing, pretty dark day, actually; you know, it’s illogical and uninformed. I find it distressing,” he told the ABC.

“It’s true we’re much more immune, but we just had our worst wave in July and August. We had far more deaths than earlier in the year. We had much more hospitalisations than earlier in the year.

Leaders met to discuss the rule change on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Professor Crabb warned up to 25,000 Australians would die this year “because of Covid” who would have otherwise lived.

“A good 15 per cent increase on our normal death rate … I didn’t hear that really stressed today and that’s one of the really distressing things,” he said.

“It’s nothing like any other respiratory disease and I find that just quite a disingenuous line of discussion.”

The seven-day isolation period was realistically always the “absolute minimum” he added, voicing concerns about the rapidly evolving situation in Europe’s winter period.

Prof Burnett was not alone in his criticism of the wind back. Victoria’s chief health officer, who was not present in the national cabinet meeting, took to Twitter to voice his concerns.

National cabinet unanimously agreed to the change. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“Sleepwalking into Covid is not a strategy I would recommend. Still much remains uncertain,” Brett Sutton said.

Earlier, Australian Medical Association president Steve Robson blasted those who pushed for the removal of mandatory quarantine, saying they were scientifically illiterate.

“I think people who are pushing for the isolation periods to be cut are not scientifically literate and are putting the public at risk and they need to understand that,” he told ABC News.

“If you think the flu is Covid, you’re living in fantasyland. Covid is a long-term infection, we’re already seeing a massive effect of long Covid on the workforce and the community.”

But Professor Kelly stressed the removal of the final Covid restriction was not set in stone and flagged advice could change should the situation deteriorate.

A letter from CMO Paul Kelly to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recommending the end of Covid isolation.

“It is important that we keep an option for a change to these settings in the future,” he said.

“For now … I believe removing isolation at this time is a reasonable cause of action from the public health point of view.”

National cabinet will meet in December to re-evaluate the advice ahead of the Christmas period, when experts have predicted an influx of cases.

In a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese outlining his advice, Prof Kelly requested he task an “appropriate body” to prepare a detailed transition plan for the future.

The advice was prepared directly by Prof Kelly for Anthony Albanese and did not go through the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee or state chief health officers.