Health experts have hit out at the government's narrowed definition of a COVID-19 close contact, finding four hours too long a time for the virus to spread.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that what constitutes a close contact of COVID-19 will be drastically narrowed to only include a person who has spent four hours or more in a household setting, or similar, with a confirmed positive case.
But without access to rapid antigen tests - now seen as a scarce yet essential household product as Australians attempt to self-manage COVID-19 - Professor Esterman said the country remains in crisis. Prime Minister Scott Morrison held a national cabinet meeting on Thursday to discuss a national definition of a COVID-19 close contact.The vice president of the Australian Medical Association Chris Moy was also sceptical of the revision, saying easing pressure from PCR testing clinics could inevitably risk overwhelming the nation's health system instead.
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