Shift to plan B as Albanese catches Covid-19
Labor rushes to implement its Covid-19 contingency plan after Anthony Albanese was struck down with the virus and its campaign plunged into disarray.
Labor has rushed to implement its Covid-19 election contingency plan after Anthony Albanese was struck down with the virus, with senior shadow cabinet ministers being sent out on the campaign trail to fill the void.
The party’s campaign was plunged into disarray after the Opposition Leader returned a positive PCR result on Thursday night, stalling Labor’s momentum after Mr Albanese had claimed victory in the first leaders’ debate.
Mr Albanese, who was due to fly to the battleground election state of Western Australia on Friday morning, will conduct interviews and press conferences from his Sydney home and will not rejoin the campaign trail for seven days.
Senior Coalition strategists told The Australian there were no plans to suspend the election campaign, arguing that Mr Albanese held 19 interviews and press conferences while Mr Morrison was in isolation.
While the Prime Minister was in isolation after testing positive on March 1, Mr Albanese campaigned in marginal electorates in Victoria, Queensland, WA and South Australia.
Mr Albanese, who had been in close contact with Labor MPs Jim Chalmers, Richard Marles, Terri Butler, Tony Burke, Murray Watt, Shayne Neumann and Fiona Phillips in recent days, said he was asymptomatic and had been testing regularly during the campaign.
“I will be isolating at home in Sydney for the next seven days and will continue to follow health guidelines and advice. While at home I will continue my responsibilities as alternative prime minister and will be fighting for a better future for all Australians,” he said.
“I am grateful to know I will have access to the world’s best healthcare if I need it, because of Medicare.
“I am feeling fine so far – and thank everyone for their well wishes.”
Mr Morrison is not considered a close contact under Queensland guidelines after he attended the Sky News-Courier Mail people’s forum with Mr Albanese on Wednesday night. The rules define a close contact as someone who has spent more than four hours in close proximity to a positive case.
Tweeting on Thursday night, Mr Morrison said: “I wish Anthony Albanese all the best for his recovery after testing positive to Covid.
“Everyone’s experience with Covid is different and as Labor’s campaign continues, I hope he does not experience any serious symptoms.”
Mr Albanese’s Covid-19 infection came as the Labor leader was regaining confidence after a gaffe-prone first week of the campaign.
Labor sources said the only positive was that this had happened “in the second week and not last week of the campaign”.
Following a routine PCR test this afternoon ahead of interstate travel to Western Australia, I have returned a positive result for COVID this evening.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) April 21, 2022
I have been testing regularly as part of my election campaign duties.
Despite strict Covid-19 rules being enforced on his campaign bus, Mr Albanese contracted the virus in recent days after attending the Bluesfest music festival in Byron Bay on Sunday night and holding dozens of meetings and press conferences. Labor campaign strategists began executing their Covid-19 contingency plan on Thursday night, which had been prepared in recent months and strengthened after Mr Morrison tested positive in March.
Senior opposition advisers, MPs and journalists who were close contacts of Mr Albanese took Covid-19 tests on Thursday night, as the campaign HQ in Sydney organised alternative arrangements to maintain Labor’s momentum.
The Perth trip is now up in the air, with the visit possibly postponed until the leader recovers.
Advisers and journalists travelling on Mr Albanese’s bus have been required to wear masks, take rapid antigen tests every three days and submit results to Labor staffers.
Following a routine PCR test this afternoon ahead of interstate travel to Western Australia, I have returned a positive result for COVID this evening.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) April 21, 2022
I have been testing regularly as part of my election campaign duties.
Despite the Covid-19 rules, several journalists travelling with Mr Albanese have tested positive since last Friday.
There are no Covid-19 requirements on Mr Morrison’s campaign bus.
Mr Albanese had been in Queensland since Friday and campaigned in the Brisbane seats of Dickson, Griffith, Rankin and Ryan before Wednesday’s debate.
He then flew to the Labor-held marginal NSW south coast seat of Gilmore on Thursday morning to campaign with Ms Phillips.
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