Covid rules Australia: Dan Andrews and Dominic Perrottet plan huge changes ahead of winter

Australia’s Covid-19 rules are set to get a major update ahead of winter, with National Cabinet considering relaxing isolation rules for close contacts.

Two weeks ago, National Cabinet asked the national expert health panel, the AHPPC, to provide urgent advice about how states could end quarantine for close contacts.

If the AHPPC agrees to the plan, close contacts with mild symptoms would be encouraged to undertake voluntary self-isolation while symptomatic.

Currently, household close contacts must isolate for seven days from the last time they were in contact with the person with Covid-19.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the change was part of ‘living with the virus’ while acknowledging winter would be challenging as Australians tackle COVID-19 and the flu.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the change was part of ‘living with the virus’ while acknowledging winter would be challenging as Australians tackle COVID-19 and the flu

‘Now that we are living with the virus, it means we are living with everything again,’ he said.

Mr Morrison said Australia was ‘pretty much’ in phase D of the national transition strategy, including tackling community outbreaks without widespread lockdowns.

Victoria’s premier Daniel Andrews said he’d had multiple discussions with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet about what the changes would be for case numbers.

‘Logic tells you it will drive [up] the number of cases. It’s about balance: How many extra cases can we have before it influences the number of people who end up in hospital,’ Mr Andrews said.

‘We’re very keen to move down this path but we need to do it with a proper understanding [of cases].’

On Friday, Australia’s Chief Health Officer said a decision on the isolation periods would be finalised in the coming weeks.

Mr Andrews warned that the winter months, along with the new BA.2 sub variant – had to be weighed up when it came to loosening restrictions.

‘We’re very keen to try and have the smallest number of rules, the least intrusive … we can possibly have but at the same time, we have to be focused on keeping people safe,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Greg Hunt is optimistic about the future of the pandemic in Australia, saying the country’s response to COVID-19 has beaten expectations.

The nation on Sunday recorded seven virus deaths and more than 40,400 new cases, while almost 2100 patients were in hospital with 102 in intensive care and 21 on ventilation, according to state and territory figures.

 Mr Morrison said Australia was ‘pretty much’ in phase D of the national transition strategy, including tackling community outbreaks without widespread lockdowns (pictured, Melbourne residents clink glasses at a pub)

 On Friday, Australia’s Chief Health Officer said a decision on the isolation periods would be finalised in the coming weeks (pictured, Melburnians enjoying a night out)

Mr Hunt, who’s retiring at the upcoming federal election, believes Australia remains in an enviable position globally.

‘We are a stronger and a better country than many acknowledge,’ he told Sky News on Sunday.

‘The resilience of Australians, the fact that we have had one of the lowest rates of loss of life in the world, one of the highest vaccination rates.’

Mr Hunt said the federal government, the general population and thousands of nurses, doctors, pathologists and health sector workers had helped the country bounce back from Covid-19.

He said his one regret about the pandemic was not spending more time with his family.

‘I’ve never been as good a dad as I would have liked to have been,’ Mr Hunt said.

‘You try to be present, but even when you’re there in person you may not be fully present because of the demands of the role, which is what you sign up for.

‘But having said that, I leave optimistic about Australia.’

His comments come after the COVID-19 outbreak intensified ramping at hospitals, particularly in NSW, South Australia, Victoria and Queensland.

Mr Hunt said the federal government, the general population and thousands of nurses, doctors, pathologists and health sector workers had helped the country bounce back from Covid-19 (pictured, Sydneysiders shopping in the CBD)

Paramedics are planning industrial action against the NSW government on Monday by refusing to leave their posts to fill gaps at other ambulance stations.

The 24-hour action on Monday is part of ongoing union efforts to improve emergency responder staffing and pay.

‘We’re taking action to demand a better resourced service. We want a fairer workplace for Paramedics, and improved coverage and care for our communities,’ Australian Paramedics Association NSW president Chris Kastelan said in a statement on Sunday.

The union is pushing for an additional 1,500 paramedics that it says are needed to turn around deteriorating ambulance response times across the state.

It also wants a pandemic payment, and a pay rise of more than 2.5 per cent.

Meanwhile in South Australia, a new Labor government has been elected partly after pledging to cut ramping times.

Incoming premier Peter Malinaukas will soon meet senior health officials and Police Commissioner Grant Stevens to discuss the state’s health advice after winning the election on Saturday.

 Victoria’s premier Daniel Andrews said he’d had multiple discussions with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet (pictured) about what the changes would be for case numbers

‘Logic tells you it will drive [up] the number of cases. It’s about balance: How many extra cases can we have before it influences the number of people who end up in hospital,’ Mr Andrews said (pictured) 

He also intends to amend SA’s laws that impose restrictions and other measures including mask mandates, lockdowns and density limits.

‘The act is not fit for purpose for a global pandemic that lasts for two years,’ Mr Malinaukas said.

In Victoria, the state government will offer subsidised and free TAFE courses to people looking to work in health care and other in-demand jobs.

Mr Andrews said the pandemic had highlighted the importance of skilling for the healthcare sector, as well as causing many people to reconsider their careers.

‘If you want a job that really matters then now is the time to make a change,’ he said on Sunday.

The 10,000 extra TAFE places announced will cost about $61.6 million and won’t be limited to healthcare courses.

 In Victoria, the state government will offer subsidised and free TAFE courses to people looking to work in health care and other in-demand jobs (pictured, rush-hour at a Sydney train station)