The Western Australian Premier has revealed he has been forced into Covid isolation, the same day other states announced the very rule that applied to his situation was scrapped.
In a statement, Mark McGowan said a family member of his tested positive on Tuesday and he was deemed a close contact.
Mr McGowan said his negative PCR test result came in on Wednesday morning after attending Rockingham General Hospital to get swabbed.
The Premier said he would continue to abide by public health and safety measures and would work from home during his seven day isolation period.
“Western Australians have done such a great job of doing the right thing and following the health advice to keep the spread of the virus to a minimum and reach the soft-landing we all sought out to achieve,” he said.
He also thanked staff at WA testing clinics and all health workers as the state navigated its way through its Omicron wave.
Under the existing rules, a close contact in the state is deemed so if they have been around a household member or intimate partner with the virus during their infectious period.
They are also a close contact if they closely interacted with an infected person during their infectious period for four hours in a residential setting, like a home, residential care facility, boarding school or other accommodation facility, and weren't wearing a mask.
It comes as NSW and Victorian authorities revealed on Wednesday their close contact rules would be scrapped altogether so household contacts no longer need to isolate as of this Friday.
The major change was made possible as both states were believed to have passed the latest peak of Omicron cases.
Those who contract Covid will still need to isolate for seven days.
South Australian police commissioner Grant Stevens also said the state was looking to follow NSW and Victoria’s lead and the move would be further discussed at the next Emergency Management Council meeting.
“The Premier (Peter Malinauskas) has made this point that he’s keen for national consistency wherever possible and I think that’s best for everyone if the rules are consistent between states and territories,” he told 5AA radio.
“There is a lot of consultation happening with the eastern states to find out exactly what their plan is so we can align what South Australia looks like going forward.”
