Sign Covid isolation rule could be dropped in NSW and Victoria
There are signs that Covid isolation rules will be dropped for a wider range of industries in the coming weeks, depending on where you live.
There are signs that Covid isolation rules will be dropped for a wider range of industries in the coming weeks, depending on where you live.
NSW appears to be the keenest state to ease the rules but it could come down to what Victoria chooses to do.
The chief health officers from all seven states and territories sit on the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), chaired by chief medical officer Professor Paul Kelly.
It is understood the committee is looking carefully at the Covid rules after it last month confirmed it supports phased changes to remove the routine quarantine requirements for all close contacts of positive cases.
Currently those contacts have to isolate for seven days even if they test negative.
The committee said now may not be the right time for the changes as the nation awaits the peak of the Covid-19 BA.2 sub-variant.
In an ideal world the committee would wait until all states and territories agree on any changes.
However, a spokeswoman for NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard told AAP the state would at least attempt to make any changes in line with Victoria if the other committee members did not agree.
She said any changes would be made with health safeguards as a major focus.
Changes to the rules have already been made for some industries, such as critical air transport workers. If identified as household contacts, they are allowed to return to work if they have no Covid-19 symptoms.
Despite this there have still been issues as travellers faced queues at Sydney Airport this week while Covid-related isolations were partly blamed for a lack of available staff.
Victoria followed with a similar decision on Tuesday.
Rules eased in other states
As of Thursday, Western Australia has relaxed a range of Covid-19 restrictions including dramatically changing its close contact rules.
Now, only household or intimate contacts of a positive case will be considered close contacts and need to isolate.
Premier Mark McGowan said this would bring the WA definition of a close contact in line with the rest of the nation.
The 500-person cap for hospitality venues, nightclubs, convention centres and function centres will also be lifted in time for the Easter long weekend.
Limits on private gatherings, both indoors and outdoors, will also be removed.
In Queensland, as of Thursday, the requirement to check in and be fully vaccinated at a range of venues and events was lifted.
Everyone can now go to pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants, theme parks, casinos, cinemas, showgrounds, galleries, libraries, museums and stadiums whether they have been vaccinated or not.
However, the vaccination requirement remains for workers in high-risk settings including schools, child care, prisons and airports — and for anyone visiting or working in vulnerable settings such as hospitals, disability accommodation services and residential aged care.
There are no restrictions on the number of people able to attend events like weddings, receptions and funerals.
Latest figures from NSW and Victoria
NSW Health is today reporting the deaths of 21 people with Covid-19; 12 women and 9 men.
Three people were aged in their 50s, one person was in their 60s, five people were in their 70s, seven people were in their 80s, four people were in their 90s, and one person was more than 100-years-old.
Older age is a significant risk factor for serious illness and death for Covid-19, particularly when combined with significant underlying health conditions.
Of the 18 people who died over the age of 65, 11 people had received three doses of a vaccine, four people had received two doses, and three people were not vaccinated.
Of the three people who died under the age of 65, one had received three doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, one had received two doses of a vaccine and one was not vaccinated. All three people had significant underlying health conditions.
There were 17,856 positive test results notified in the 24 hours to 4pm yesterday – including 9,791 positive rapid antigen tests (RATs) and includes 8,065 positive PCR tests. The 8,065 positive PCR results were returned from a total of 46,535 PCR tests.
Meanwhile, there were 10,462 new cases recorded today in Victoria.
We thank everyone who got vaccinated and tested yesterday.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) April 13, 2022
Our thoughts are with those in hospital and the families of people who lost their lives.
More data soon: https://t.co/OCCFTAtS1Ppic.twitter.com/O9Gpg4rPXc
There are 392 people hospitalised with virus, 19 in ICU and four on ventilators.
There were 14 deaths related to the virus in the past 24 hours.