Covid-positive Australians could soon spend just five days in mandatory isolation, as the government attempts to strike a balance between health and economic risks in the pandemic’s third year.
Under changes made at the start of the year, those who test positive in most states now only need to spend seven days in isolation.
But authorities are weighing up a “difficult balancing act” and considering following other countries.
The United Kingdom government is reportedly considering scrapping isolation completely, while the United States and European CDC’s have reduced quarantine time to five days.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says while a complete scrapping of isolation rules is unlikely any time soon, Australians could soon spend just five days inside.
“We’re keeping under review the isolation requirements that we have at present,” Mr Frydenberg said on Tuesday.
“I do note that a number of other countries around the world have actually reduced the isolation requirements even for those who tested positive from seven or 10 days down to five days.
“It’s important that we keep monitoring our settings, and it’s never set and forget. This pandemic changes.
“I can’t tell you whether the Omicron variant is the last variant or whether there will be another one. We just don’t know – no one has a crystal ball.
“The government will do everything possible to help support the Australian community on both the health and economic front.”
Chief medical officer Paul Kelly said scrapping Covid isolation times was a “live issue” that we “need to really start thinking about”.
“I think now is the time to think about what we do into the future. Covid’s going to be with us for many years,” Professor Kelly said.
“These are difficult balancing questions. So the more you go down that path of shorter isolation periods, the higher the risk of having transmission in the community.
“Different countries have taken different approaches to this … Some are at seven, some are at 10, some are still at 14.
“Both the CDC in Atlanta and the European equivalent in Stockholm admit there is no evidence behind that decision. It’s a decision of balance.
“It’s a decision about workforces and a trade-off with increased transmission in the community … We continue to look at that.”
The Morrison government is under increasing pressure from unions to better protect people at work.
Asymptomatic close contacts in some critical industries including food and grocery, warehousing and transport sectors can return to work without any time in isolation.
More industries could soon follow.
Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus said it wasn’t fair that essential workers were being expected to put themselves in harm’s way to keep the country going without more protection.
“The union movement will do everything we can to keep people safe and act to slow the spread of this latest wave of the Covid pandemic,” she said.
