Anthony Albanese tests positive to Covid for a second time this year

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has tested Covid-19 for the second time within months, just days after meeting with his Finnish counterpart and cuddled babies while visiting a flood-ravaged town before attending a packed rock concert at the Sydney Opera House.

He confirmed the news on Monday night and will isolate at home at Kirribilli House while infected, despite scrapping isolation restriction rules in October.

‘This afternoon I had a routine PCR test which has returned a positive result for Covid,’ Mr Albanese tweeted.

‘I will be isolating and will continue to work from home.

‘I encourage anyone who is unwell to test and to take any extra precautions to keep their families and neighbours well.’

A national cabinet meeting with state and territory leaders scheduled to be held on Wednesday will now be delayed.

It’s not known how many people have been in close contact with Mr Albanese since he became infected. 

He left Canberra and returned to Sydney on Friday after the final sitting week of parliament for the year.

Hours later, he met with Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin and invited her to Kirribilli House.

The following day, he travelled to flood-ravaged Renmark in South Australia’s Riverland as the Murray River continued to rise.

He met with Premier Peter Malinauskas and mingled with affected locals, where he was photographed cuddling babies while visiting a local caravan park. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cuddles baby Mia while touring the Big4 Caravan Park in Renmark on Saturday. The PM is now in isolation after testing positive to Covid

The Prime Minister returned to Sydney to attend a concert by US rock band Pixies (pictured) at the Sydney Opera House

The music tragic returned to Sydney to attend a concert of US alternative rock band Pixie at the Sydney Opera House on Sunday night.

‘Brilliant as always. Pixies gig tonight was worth the wait. #livemusic,’ he posted on Instagram.

The then-opposition leader also tested positive in April less than a month out from the federal election after attending a series of public events on the election campaign.

Mr Albanese spent a week isolating at his home in Sydney’s inner-west before leaving isolation for the final three weeks of the election campaign.