Australia SCRAPS mandatory Covid isolation rules in National Cabinet meeting

Australia’s National Cabinet has reportedly agreed to scrap mandatory Covid isolation rules.  

The Nine Network reported the mandate will remain in force for aged care and hospital workers – but otherwise will not apply to Covid sufferers from October 14. Further details are expected shortly. 

It follows by a push by NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet to abolish the long-standing rules. 

The Nine Network reported the mandate will remain in force for aged care and hospital workers – but otherwise will not apply to Covid sufferers (pictured, National Cabinet meeting on Friday)

Currently Australians in all states and territories must isolate for five days if they test positive to Covid-19. 

‘We need to get to a point where if you’re sick you stay at home and if you’re well you go out and about and enjoy life and that’s where we have to get to as a country,’ Mr Perrottet said.

‘We also need to get to this position where people look out for each other, that we care for each other and make sure that if you’re sick you stay home without there being a public health order in place.’

The Australian Medical Association President Dr Steve Robson warned against the move on ABC News Breakfast. 

Dr Robson said: ‘I think people who are pushing for the isolation periods to be cut are not scientifically literate and are putting the public at risk and they need to understand that’. 

‘We’re seeing a huge upswing in the numbers of COVID cases again. It’s coming into holiday season when people would be travelling around the world.

The Nine Network reported the mandate will remain in force for aged care and hospital workers – but otherwise will not apply to Covid sufferers

‘It’s a period of significant risk and we’re urging caution because we need to protect the health system.’

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said COVID needed to be normalised as a virus and be treated like any other respiratory condition.

Meanwhile, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said while case numbers were ticking downwards, caution was still needed.

‘Right now is a period of low case numbers, low hospitalisation, low levels of community transmission, it’s unlikely to be a better time than now going into summer,’ he told reporters.

‘But you’ve got to also be mindful of what might come next.’