The new amendment comes as the healthcare system struggles with rising hospitalisations, huge testing lines and high infections numbers sitting around 6,000 cases a day.
Close contacts of household members initially had to isolate for 14 days but that will be slashed in half to seven days to get medical staff back to work as soon as possible.
Healthcare staff classified as close contacts of a positive case will only need to isolate for seven days, instead of 14, before being allowed to return to work. Picture: Richard Dobson Close contacts within a healthcare setting will have isolation requirements decided by the workplace's risk policy. Hospitalisations have doubled in one week since cases spiked after a number of superspreader events earlier this month.
Mr Hazzard said the majority of those receiving care in a hospital setting were unvaccinated who were putting health staff, already"run off their feet", at further risk.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
COVID-19 rules extended as WA outbreak expands with 86 close contacts yet to be foundWA Premier Mark McGowan has extended restrictions on gatherings and a mask mandate into the new year over concerns some infected people may be delaying getting tested so they can party.
Read more »
COVID-19 wreaks havoc on Sydney to HobartRough conditions in the 76th annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race has forced almost a quarter of the field to retire. _StephAnderson 9News MORE:
Read more »
Australians urged not to show up to COVID-19 test sites, hospitals unless necessaryAs surging COVID-19 infections put Australia’s healthcare system under significant strain, state governments are asking people to reconsider their need for PCR tests, ambulances and hospital emergency departments:
Read more »
COVID-19 testing sites in 'meltdown' as families forced to miss ChristmasA mayor in Sydney has blamed NSW Health for the congestion seen at multiple testing sites across Sydney, asking the department to fix the issue, with thousands still left waiting for results days after getting swabbed.
Read more »
With omicron, it may be harder to tell if you have COVID-19 or a coldWith omicron, health experts warn the symptoms that previously helped people to gauge whether they had a cold, flu or COVID-19 are no longer as reliable.
Read more »