New modelling suggests rapid antigen tests can hasten isolation for some confirmed COVID-19 cases as one of Australia's leading infectious disease experts calls for an end to seven-day minimums.
Former chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth says current isolation rules do more harm than good as Australians are increasingly taken out of the workforce.
"Even if there's a small amount of infectivity risk at day six or seven, if you are in a mask and are wearing it like doctors and nurses do, which is properly in a hospital setting, your risk of transmission is really low," Dr Coatsworth told Sky News.
Treasury data shows three million working days were lost in the first six months of this year due to virus illness and an estimated 31,000 workers around the nation were on sick leave each day in June.
Dr Coatsworth says under the circumstances, seven days of isolation is excessive and needs to be scrapped.
New Zealand research meanwhile shows using RATS as part of a "test-to-release" policy would shorten the minimum isolation period for confirmed cases.
"Rapid antigen tests are the best tool we have to tell if people are still infectious, so it is possible to tailor an isolation period to when people are infectious," according to Auckland University's Emily Harvey.
"Some people could leave isolation sooner than seven days, some people will need to isolate for longer."
A two-test-to-release policy would involve a minimum isolation period of five days and a maximum of 10.
Australia reported a further 15 COVID-19 deaths on Sunday along with more than 9000 new virus cases. A total of 86 fatalities and more than 11,000 infections were announced on Saturday.
The country still has over 127,000 active coronavirus cases, with more than 3000 patients in hospital care nationwide.
LATEST 24-HOUR COVID-19 DATA:
NSW: 4160 cases, five deaths, 1821 in hospital with 45 in ICU
Victoria: 2099 cases, nine deaths, 372 in hospital with 23 in ICU
Queensland: 1125 cases, nil deaths, 288 in hospital with 10 in ICU
WA: 1055 cases, one death, 128 in hospital with six in ICU
ACT: 175 cases, nil deaths, 104 in hospital with three in ICU
SA: 439 cases, nil deaths, 153 in hospital with seven in ICU
Tasmania: 178 cases, nil deaths, 30 in hospital with one in ICU
NT: 63 cases, nil deaths, 14 in hospital with none in ICU
