National cabinet: Requirement for Covid cases to get day six test scrapped

Less than 24 hours after national cabinet agreed on testing requirements for Covid cases, there’s been a sudden backflip.

The requirement for confirmed Covid cases to get a test on day six before they leave isolation has been scrapped, less than 24 hours after it was agreed to by national cabinet.

Following the emergency meeting, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Thursday afternoon that confirmed cases would need to get a rapid antigen test on day six before leaving their week of isolation.

But on Friday afternoon, just 22 hours after the advice, this day-six testing rule for Covid positive people was scrapped.

“Following further consultation with the chief medical officer and chief health officers, leaders have also agreed to remove the requirement for day-six rapid antigen tests for confirmed cases in isolation,” a statement said.

Covid cases will no longer need to get a rapid antigen test on day six of isolation. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“If confirmed cases remain symptomatic, they should remain in isolation.

“Anyone with symptoms will continue to seek a PCR test.”

The backflip was called “extraordinary” by Australian Medical Association federal president Omar Khorshid.

“It’s extraordinary that the advice has changed within 24 hours of the Prime Minister issuing it,” he told NCA NewsWire.

“It is certainly concerning that measures have changed within 24 hours.”

Dr Khorshid said he was worried that seven days was not enough time in isolation for cases, noting published advice talked about 10 or 14 days.

“Seven days from symptom onset might end up with people being back in the community while still infectious and that’s going to rapidly spread the virus,” he said.

National cabinet also agreed on Thursday to narrow the definition of a close contact to someone who has been in a household or household-like setting – like aged care – for more than four hours with a confirmed infection.

Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid said it was extraordinary the advice had changed within 24 hours.

These people will be required to isolate for a week and get a rapid antigen test on day six if they have no symptoms. But if this rapid test returns a positive result, they need to get a PCR test.

If they do have symptoms they will need to instead get a PCR test instead of the rapid antigen test.

The new national definition was adopted in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and the ACT from midnight, while Tasmania will bring it into force from Saturday.

The further easing on testing requirements comes as clinics in Sydney have closed until further notice to ease backlogs for results.

NSW recorded a massive 21,151 cases of Covid on Friday, Victoria clocked 5919 infections and Queensland reached 3118 positive results.