National cabinet has agreed to scrap mandatory COVID isolation rules from October 14, but Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly says "it does not in any way suggest that the pandemic is finished".
Look back on our blog to see how Friday's events unfolded.
Key events
- Lets break down the new rules
- Chief Medical Officer: 'We're not seeing a major picture of long COVID'
- Are authorities expecting more cases of long COVID if the virus is spreading more freely?
- Albanese: 'It is not sustainable' to have a system where 'the government steps in permanently'
- Mandatory isolation requirements have been scrapped
Live updates
By Jessica Riga
That's where we'll leave our live coverage
Here's a recap of what happened today:
- Rules forcing people to isolate for five days if they test positive to COVID-19 will end from October 14 for everyone, with support for some workers to be able to continue isolation if needed
- States will determine how to implement the change, but national cabinet agreed to continue targeted financial support for casual workers in aged care, disability care, Aboriginal health care and hospital care
- Support payments for people infected with COVID-19 who are not in those sectors will also end from October 14, with payments that continue to be funded equally by the Commonwealth and individual states or territories
- Scrapping mandatory isolation marks the end of one of the last remaining pandemic restrictions
You can continue reading this story using the link below.
Thanks for joining us today. You can continue to stay up to date here on the ABC News website and on our app.
By Jessica Riga
Here's the weekly COVID data for the rest of Australia
This morning a few states released this week's today data.
We've now received updates from Tsamania, South Australia, the ACT and NT.
Tasmania
Tasmania has reported two new deaths in the seven days to 4pm on Thursday.
The state reported 732 new cases of the virus, down from 923 last week.
There are 4 patients in hospital being treated for COVID-19, one of which is in the ICU.
South Australia
South Australia reported 19 COVID-19 deaths in the week to 4pm Thursday, slightly down from last week's total of 23.
There are 31 people in hospital with the virus, down from 50. There's one person in ICU, compared to last week when there was six.
There were 3,104 new cases recorded over the past week, on par with last week's total of 3,037.
Australian Capital Territory
The ACT reported one COVID-19 death in the week to 4pm on Thursday.
There are currently 55 people in hospital, down from 69 last week, and no one is requiring ICU support.
There were 616 new cases this week, down from last week's total of 730.
Northern Territory
The NT reported two new COVID-19 deaths in the week to 4pm on Thursday.
There are currently 12 people with the virus in hospital in the territory.
There were 339 new cases recorded over the past week, down slightly from 379 cases in the previous week.
By Jessica Riga
Pfizer COVID vaccine approved for all children aged over six months old
I would love to be able to vaccinate my kiddos who are 2 and 2 months, any word on the ATAGI process?
- Mum of littles
Hey there,
Yesterday the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved Pfizer's paediatric dose of its COVID vaccine for children aged between six months and five years old.
But the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) is yet to make a decision on which under-fives will be eligible.
You can read more on this story in the link below.
By Jessica Riga
Watch: CMO says COVID should be treated like other infectious diseases when it comes to work health and safety measures
Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly says high vaccination rates, the availability of treatments and hybrid immunity have changed the government's position on COVID-19 isolation rules.
By Jessica Riga
Watch: National cabinet agrees to end mandatory isolation from October 14
With the unanimous support of all Premiers and Chief Ministers, National Cabinet has agreed to scrap the five-day mandatory isolation rules for COVID-19 from October 14.
By Jessica Riga
ACT Health Minister says some COVID measures will remain in place
The ACT's Health Minister says National Cabinet's unanimous decision to scrap mandatory COVID-19 isolation periods has taken into account the significant reduction in case numbers and community demand for a return to relative-normality.
The decision means rules forcing people to isolate for five days if they test positive to COVID-19 will end in two weeks on October 14, with support for some workers to continue in isolation if needed.
Rachel Stephen-Smith says some COVID-19 safety measures will remain in place.
"That maintenance of not enabling people who are positive for COVID to enter or work in high-risk facilities is very important for protecting those who are at higher risk or severe risk from COVID," she said
By Jessica Riga
Let's look at the weekly COVID figures from around the country
The states and territories have recently shifted to reporting COVID-19 figures on a weekly basis on Fridays.
So far today, NSW, Victoria, Queensland and WA have released this week's data.
New South Wales
NSW reported 82 COVID-19 deaths in the week to 4pm on Thursday, up from 69 total deaths last week.
In some good news, the number of people in hospital has fallen from 1,176 to 1,057, but there are still 24 people in ICU.
There were 12,592 new cases recorded over the past week, a decrease on last week's total of 14,170.
Victoria
Victoria is reporting its COVID deaths as a seven-day rolling average.
It reported an approximately 59 deaths on average this week, down from last week's average of 80.
The state also reported 9,458 new cases, a decrease on last week's total of 10,360.
Hospitalisations are also down, with 145 people in hospital this week compared to 169. Nine people are in ICU, up from last week's total of eight.
Queensland
Queensland recorded 77 COVID-19 deaths this past week. The sharp rise, up from last week's total of 37 deaths, is because this week includes historical deaths prior to this reporting period.
The state recorded 8,061 new cases, down from last week's total of 9,166.
Hospitalisations have also decreased, with 116 people in hospital compared to last week's total of 152. Five people are in ICU, down from seven from last week.
Western Australia
The state recorded 10 COVID-19 deaths in the week to 4pm Thursday, dating back to 29 August 2022.
There are 136 cases in hospital, an increase of two people since last week, as two people remain in ICU.
There were 4,662 new cases recorded over the past week, down from 5,055 cases last week.
By Shiloh Payne
A look at the ongoing targeted financial support
National cabinet agreed to continue targeted financial support for casual workers, workers in aged care, disability care, Aboriginal healthcare and hospital care sectors.
The new payment will be funded 50:50 between the Commonwealth and States and Territories.
The details on eligibility and compliance will be released by Services Australia.
These arrangements will be reviewed at the December meeting of national cabinet.
By Shiloh Payne
CMO says Australia now has a number of readily accessed pharmaceutical measures
In his advice rationale, Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly says our pandemic response has changed since its early stages.
Here's what they include:
- vaccines and treatments
- rapid diagnostic capability,
- adequate personal protective equipment
- appropriate infection prevention and control procedures.
By Shiloh Payne
Australia is now living with COVID-19, but in aged care, thousands are dying with it
They're known as the Silent Generation: Australia's elders often have a reputation for copping hard knocks on the chin without complaint – but they’re also among our most vulnerable.
It's because of that vulnerability many of their lives have been slower to return to a pre-COVID 'normal'.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, Australians united to protect each other.
During the first two years, the country was devastated to see almost 900 deaths from the illness in aged care. That figure made up about 40 per cent of the 2,220 deaths recorded during the same time frame.
Some of those early aged care casualties died alone. They left behind distraught families, themselves living in lockdown, unable to mourn their losses together.
This year, the death rate in aged care has dropped to 3.5 per cent, compared to 33 per cent in 2020, thanks to vaccines and less severe variants.
But in terms of total deaths, there’s now been 4,000 in aged care since the start of the pandemic, including 3,000 this year alone.
In the eyes of advocates, not enough people are paying attention to aged care anymore.
Residents say the last few years have been difficult but they understand the world has to keep turning, even though COVID still poses a health risk to them.
You can continue reading this story from Penny Timms, Katherine Gregory and Norman Hermant with the link below
By Shiloh Payne
Some more of your thoughts
Disgraceful advice. Obviously economy more important than society and people. The vulnerable around us are not amongst the counted. Shameful. - Aileen
I shall continue to wear my mask(s) and keep clear of humans as much as I can. I will not be eating in restaurants, going to movies, outdoor events or any large gathering of people. I cannot afford to get infected! It is a matter of life and death. Everyone else….have a great time and enjoy your new “found” freedoms! - Koala55
I would have loved to have been able to vaccinate my two year old daughter before they made these changes. It's all about the economy and nothing about public health. - J
By Shiloh Payne
'Important' to continue to protect the vulnerable, ACT health minister says
The ACT's health minister says the national cabinet decision to scrap mandatory COVID-19 isolation periods has taken into account the significant reduction in case numbers and community demand for a return to relative normality.
The decision means rules forcing people to isolate for five days if they test positive to COVID-19 will end in two weeks.
Rachel Stephen-Smith says some COVID-19 safety measures will remain in place.
"Maintenance of not enabling people who are positive for COVID-19 to enter or work in a high-risk facility is very important for protecting those who are at higher risk from COVID," Ms Stephen-Smith says.
By Shiloh Payne
The CMO has released his advice on COVID isolation
Paul Kelly says the current state of the pandemic in Australia was a part of his rationale for his advice.
"We have seen a rapid and substantial decrease in cases, hospitalisations and ICU admissions, and the number and size of Residential Aged Care outbreaks since the peak of the most recent BA.5 wave at the end of July," Professor Kelly says.
"Recognising that testing and therefore case ascertainment is likely lower than previously, we are in a better epidemiological situation than any time since December 2021 for most measures, and April 2022 for hospitalisations."
"Whilst we are closely monitoring new sub-variants of the Omicron variant which continues to energy, at this stage the situation is Australia is stable."
By Shiloh Payne
Lets break down the new rules
Let's take a look at what is actually changing:
- From October 14 there will be no more mandatory isolation for anyone.
- There will be targeted financial support for casual workers to be able to isolate, as well as workers in aged care, disability care, Aboriginal health care and hospital care.
- Support payments for people infected with COVID-19 who aren't in the above sectors will end on October 14.
- States will be the ones determining how to implement the change
- The decision was unanimous among state and territory leaders, Mr Albanese said
- It comes one month after the isolation period was reduced from seven to five days.
By Shiloh Payne
Here's what you're saying about the announcement
It’s disappointing we have as a community such little respect for our vulnerable and elderly. Getting our latte is more important. - Julie
Literally cannot believe the action of the National Cabinet. The low rates of transmission just MIGHT have something to do with the fact that people are required to stay at home with covid. Now, no where is safe for people to go, particularly vulnerable people, given anyone with covid can just walk into shops etc. I will have to go to work and be in small rooms with people, and I am a higher risk person. What is wrong with this country? The pandemic isn't over, this is against AMA recommendations and now more people will die. - O
While it’s hard and harsh, reality is we’ll never rid of this virus but by now we are as about covered as we can be for herd immunity and that those unfortunate enough who died. A lot of people have been lost and a lot of people got very sick. We have no choice but to move forward and unfortunately… normalise this situation. - Coffee Maker
By Jessica Riga
In pictures: Friday's national cabinet meeting
By Shiloh Payne
That concludes the press conference
Our political reporter Tom Lowrey is breaking down what was said on News channel, here's what he says:
The primary reason given by the chief medical officer in his advice to national cabinet, that supported this decision, is that in his words, isolation cannot be seen in isolation.
It basically suggests that isolation shouldn't be seen as a catch-all kind of solution to the challenges of COVID and there's other strategies in place to mitigate the impacts of this virus on the community.
He pointed to things like high vaccination rates across the community, we know that double dose vaccination rates, the fully vaccinated rate across the Australian community, is extraordinarily high, booster rates perhaps are not as high, but are still reasonably significant.
He points to high immunity, people who have caught COVID-19 over the course of the past few years and have some immune response the as a result as well.
Also treatments, antiviral treatments now available, particularly in hospitals and through GPs and pharmacies as well. So when people do get COVID-19, and have a severe response to the virus, they can be treated with different methods to how we saw at the start of the pandemic.
Basically, this is just a less serious situation than what it was before.
By Bridget Judd
Chief Medical Officer: 'We're not seeing a major picture of long COVID'
Professor Kelly says that when authorities "started to look at every... piece of data that we've [got] in the Commonwealth, we're not seeing a major picture of long COVID".
"There are people out there with long-term symptoms. But it remains to be seen how that will play out in the Australian situation," he says.
"And the parliamentary committee that's also been formed will help in that regard. But there will be more to say about that in coming weeks."
That brings the press conference to a close.
EDIT: An earlier headline stated authorities we're not "seeing a major picture of long COVID" in Australia. Professor Kelly said health authorities had examined data available "in the Commonwealth".
By Bridget Judd
Are authorities expecting more cases of long COVID if the virus is spreading more freely?
Mr Albanese says as public decision makers, they have a responsibility to listen to the health advice, "but we've also got a responsibility to make decisions which are proportionate".
"That is what we have done. COVID is still out there. We understand that, we talked about that need to continue to run campaigns to get people vaccinated. We continue to provide support in high risk areas," he says.
"We'll continue to monitor these issues and we'll have another discussion in December, but as Professor Kelly said, we're making the decisions based upon the circumstances we're in right now."
He continues: "There's not a role for government in running every bit of people's lives forever".
Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly adds Australia is in "quite a different situation to most of the rest of the world".
"We were not exposed to COVID before we had at least two vaccines. We know the major risk factors for long COVID are having had infection before vaccination, being unvaccinated, having severe illness, and having other types of COVID that were not Omicron," Professor Kelly says.
"None of those things pertain to the Australian situation for most of us."
By Bridget Judd
How long should people stay away from work if they're sick?
Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly says "we're not stopping infectious people going out into the community now", but he expects those conversations to remain ongoing in high-risk settings.
"The important thing is in the context of where we are now with high vaccination rates... and so forth, as well as the availability of treatments, as the different way of dealing with it," he says.
"In terms of the occupational elements, in those particularly high-risk settings, that will remain a discussion with employers, work health and safety elements apply for all sorts of infectious diseases [and] COVID should be seen like that."
