Expert optimism as ACT weighs up releasing contacts from isolation rules

The ACT government is expected to make changes to household contact isolation rules, but could require contacts to still wear face masks in public. Picture: Elesa Kurtz

Dropping the week-long household contact isolation rule may not significantly drive up COVID-19 infections in the community, even though more people would be out and about while infectious, experts have said.

But one epidemiologist warned widespread COVID transmission would have an ongoing burden on the health system unless more was done to curb the virus' spread and prevent more long COVID cases.