Melbourne, Australia – Australia’s mandatory Covid isolation period will be reduced from seven days to five after the National Cabinet agreed to the changes. However, people in high-risk groups will have to stay in mandatory Covid isolation for seven days.
“The National Council of Ministers has agreed to reduce the isolation period of Covid-19 positive cases from seven to five after a positive test,” said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. This applies to people who have no symptoms and the government has also requested that those with symptoms stay at home.
We want the people to work responsibly. There will be a seven-day mandatory isolation period for workers in high-risk areas, including elderly care, disability care, home care, Prime Minister Albanese said.
After reducing the isolation period, the weekly epidemic payment will also be reduced from $750 to cover five days only. The National Council of Ministers has also agreed to remove the provision of mandatory wearing of masks on domestic flights. The matter reached cabinet after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews proposed reducing the mandatory Covid isolation period to five days.
Speaking in Melbourne ahead of today’s national cabinet meeting, Andrews categorically rejected proposals to completely scrap ISO rules, as in the UK. State premiers requested the health advisory as the number of infected cases continues to decline and summer approaches. All the changed rules will be effective from September 9.
