PM rejects push to lower covid isolation rule

The PM rejects call by NSW Premier, saying the isolation timeframe for Covid-19 positive people won’t be slashed, following advice from CMO.

The Prime Minister has been under pressure to slash the isolation timeframe from seven to five days after a high-profile intervention from NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

Anthony Albanese says the federal government is not considering shortening isolation requirements for Covid-19 positive people following advice from Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has been calling for the government to consider shortening isolation requirements from seven to five days, a restriction which has already been implemented in the UK and the US.

Speaking to 2GB radio earlier on Monday, Mr Perrottet urged the federal government to rethink isolation requirements, arguing this year’s winter strain of influenza was in some cases more severe than Covid-19.

“As we move through the next phase of the pandemic we need to balance up the competing health issues,” Mr Perrottet said.

“At the moment, the current strand of influenza is more severe than the current strands of Covid.”

The Prime Minister said Professor Kelly said “now is not the time” for current restrictions to be reconsidered and reiterated the imminent Omicron wave was expected to peak in the coming weeks.

“We had that discussion and the advice that is there from the Chief Medical Officer Professor Kelly is that now is not the time for that to be reconsidered, that’s something that health officials will continue to to look at but given the increased spread of the Covid-19 virus in recent times that we will see continuing,” Mr Albanese told FiveAA radio on Monday morning.

“It is something that is continuing, it’s expected to peak over the coming weeks and now is not the time to change those provisions which are there.

Mr Albanese said the federal government was steadfast in driving down rates of casualisation in the workforce, after it was forced to backflip on a decision to scrap the $750 paid pandemic leave.

He said he was seeking to put secure work into the Fair Work Act as a top priority of his jobs summit in September.

“It’s not just a matter of people not having sick leave or annual leave, it’s also the fact of how do you get a mortgage if you don’t have secure work, how do you plan to have a child or another child if you don’t have a secure income,” Mr Albanese said.

“That’s something that is a growing problem in our society, it’s something that we identified before the election and something my government wants to work with employers and unions to promote secure work.”