Asymptomatic people who have tested positive for COVID-19 will only have to isolate for five days, under new rules agreed upon by national cabinet.
This marks a reduction from seven days, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
“Clearly, if you have symptoms, we want people to stay home,” Albanese said.
“We want people to act responsibly.”
People in aged, disability and home care will still be required to isolate for seven days, regardless of whether they are symptomatic or not.
The changes will come into effect next Friday, September 9.
Should pandemic leave payments for workers forced to stay home with COVID-19 be extended past September 30?
The paid pandemic leave disaster payment eligibility will change to reflect the isolation rule changes.
“We’ll have a meeting on that in a couple of weeks’ time,” Albanese said
“We haven’t changed the arrangement with regard to payments.”
Passengers on domestic flights will no longer be required to wear masks from Friday September 9.
The meeting comes after the Therapeutic Goods Administration approved a Moderna vaccine targeting the Omicron variant.
Australia is just the third country worldwide to approve the jab. after initial tests showed the shot created a higher immune response to the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants.
Moderna has said it can supply the vaccine immediately.
