September 30, 2022
Mandatory isolation for people who test positive for COVID-19 will be scrapped from October 14, except in some workplaces.
The move, which removes one of the last remaining pandemic restrictions, follows a meeting of National Cabinet on Friday morning.
The isolation period was reduced from seven days to five days a month ago, but will now be scrapped completely except for workers in high-risk settings such as aged and disability care, Indigenous health care and hospitals.
Support payments for people who have COVID-19 will also end on October 14, except for workers in the high-risk areas.
Speaking on ABC-TV prior to the announcement, Australian Medical Association president Prof Steve Robson said any push to scrap isolation periods would put the public “at risk”.
“I think people who are pushing for the isolation periods to be cut are not scientifically literate and are putting the public at risk and they need to understand that,” Prof Robson said.
“We’re seeing overseas a huge upswing in the numbers of COVID cases again. It’s coming into holiday season when people would be travelling around the world.
“We think it’s a period of significant risk and we’re urging caution because we need to protect the health system and we need to protect vulnerable people like those in aged care and people with a disability.
“If you think the flu is COVID, you’re living in fantasy land. COVID is a long-term infection. We’re already seeing a massive effect of Long COVID on the workforce and the community. You don’t have it with long flu or long cold. It’s fantasy.”
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The Federal Government also announced on Friday that Australian Defence Force support for aged care facilities has ended.
Defence personnel have been deployed at some aged care facilities across the country to help control outbreaks since 2020.
They also assisted with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations to these facilities.
This support was withdrawn on Friday.
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Queensland Health announced 77 more COVID-19 deaths in the State on Friday morning, taking the toll since the pandemic began to 2201.
Not all these deaths occurred in the last seven-day reporting period (to midnight on Tuesday) as some were historic deaths.
However, since September 1, 832 people have died in Queensland with COVID-19.
There are currently 116 people being treated for COVID-19 in Queensland hospitals, including five in intensive care units.
Individual statistics for First Nations infections and the Darling Downs Health Region are no longer available.
