‘Too early’ to end COVID isolation

AUSTRALIA’S peak medical body has warned it’s “too early” to scrap COVID-19 isolation requirements, as the nation is set to be hit by another wave of infections.

National cabinet agreed to dump the five-day isolation period for positive cases at its last meeting in September. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the changes would come into effect on October 14.

But Australian Medical Association president Steve Robson said it was “too early” to ease these protections for the community.

“All the signs are that we’re looking at another wave of COVID,” he said.

“We’re coming out of one of the biggest waves of COVID yet and it has absolutely crushed the hospital workforce and left us with a massive logjam and backlog in hospitals that has to be dealt with.

“If we have another wave over the holiday season, then it spells bad news for the country because we can’t tackle that backlog.”

Professor Robson said information from the northern hemisphere showed the newer variants wouldn’t be affected by immunity from previous infection or from vaccinations.

“We’re seeing a major wave beginning again in the northern hemisphere,” he said.

“We’re very concerned that this doesn’t happen in Australia.”

The federal health department is due to release its weekly COVID-19 case notifications report today.

It comes as News Ltd reported that vaccine mandates would remain in place for tens of thousands of Victorians even after the state government drops its pandemic declaration.

The report claimed the declaration was widely expected not to be renewed when it expires on October 12, giving the government a clear COVID-free run to the election.

It would mean any remaining orders including vaccine mandates would be unenforceable.

However, both government departments and private sector employers will be free to set their own “no jab, no job” rules if they want.

The state government has confirmed that the Health Department will extend vaccine requirements for its workers.