COVID-19 isolation rules for close contacts will be scrapped in New South Wales and Victoria on Friday, along with changes to vaccine requirements and mandatory mask rules.
Firstly, you should know that the changes for NSW will come into effect at 6pm this Friday. And, in Victoria, the changes will take place from Friday at midnight.
Here's what you need to know about the new isolation rules.
What is a close contact and how long do they need to isolate?
The Department of Health defines a close contact as: Someone who lives in the same house as a positive COVID-19 case, or someone who has spent four or more hours with a positive case in a home, or health facility or aged care environment or similar.
Here's how long a close contact needs to isolate in each state.
- In NSW and Victoria: Close contacts will no longer have to quarantine, provided they wear a face mask in indoor settings
- In Queensland: Quarantine for seven days
- In Tasmania: Quarantine for seven days
- In South Australia: Quarantine for seven days
- In Western Australia: Quarantine for seven days
- In the Northern Territory: If you're fully vaccinated, quarantine for seven days. If you're unvaccinated, quarantine for 14 days
- In the ACT: Quarantine for seven days.
Do close contacts still need to be tested?
Yes.
And, for NSW and Victoria, close contacts must conduct daily rapid antigen tests (RATs).
What does this mean for positive cases?
Positive cases will still be required to complete the week-long isolation.
Why have NSW and Victoria decided to change the isolation rules?
Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said that high vaccination rates have contributed to the easing of restrictions.
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said it was suitable to ease restrictions as the state had passed the peak of the BA.2 Omicron sub-variant.
What does this mean for international arrivals?
Here are quarantine rules outlined on each state or territory's government website:
- In NSW: Unvaccinated international travellers will no longer have to hotel quarantine from April 30 but will need to take a RAT within 24 hours of arriving in NSW
- In Victoria: International travellers who are symptom-free will be recommended, but not required, to undertake a PCR or rapid antigen test (RAT) on arrival and unvaccinated travellers will no longer need to complete seven days of quarantine
- In Queensland: Vaccinated international travellers will still need to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result. Unvaccinated international travellers will need to quarantine on arrival in Queensland, in a government-nominated accommodation, for 14 days
- In Tasmania: International arrivals who have met the Australian entry requirements will not be subjected to additional requirements to enter Tasmania
- In South Australia: Vaccinated international travellers must undertake a RAT on arrival and quarantine until they have taken the test. Unvaccinated international travellers must quarantine, as directed, for 14 days after arrival
- In Western Australia: Vaccinated international travellers are recommended, but not required, to take a RAT on arrival. Unvaccinated returning Australians will be required to complete seven days of hotel quarantine
- In the Northern Territory: You will be required to undertake 14 days of mandatory, supervised quarantine if you are a repatriated Australian
- In the ACT: Vaccinated international travellers will still need to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result. Unvaccinated international travellers will need to quarantine.
