Australia to end mandatory Covid isolation requirements

The Australian government says it will stop mandatory Covid isolation requirements from the 14th of October.

Australia’s chief medical officer, Prof Paul Kelly said the emergency phase of its response is probably over.

Over time, the country has had the strictest restrictions in the world since the pandemic started.

Mandatory isolation had been one of the few restrictions remaining. Anyone who tests positive to the virus must isolate for five days.

Prof Kelly also pointed out that the decision does not in any way suggest an end to the pandemic.

He said the country would see future peaks of the virus, but it currently had very low numbers of hospital admissions and aged care outbreaks.

Reports have it that Australia has had fewer death rate of about 15,000 people since the pandemic began. The vast majority happened this year after the country opened up.

Australia has closed international borders for around two years and imposed strict limits on movement around the country.

Also Read:  Australia reports 43 Covid deaths before expanded border reopening

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted that most existing government payments for people who have to miss work because of Covid will stop.

“It was always envisaged that these measures were emergency measures,” he said.

Meanwhile, casual workers and those in high-risk areas like aged care or health will still be eligible to get financial support.

Australia continues to record about 5,500 virus cases each day. It is still one of the world’s most vaccinated countries.

Samuel Omowumi Racheal