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AAP
AAP
Health
Tim Dornin

SA to support ongoing pandemic payments

Acting Premier Susan Close says the SA government sees a case to continue pandemic leave payments. (AAP)

South Australia will support a push for the federal government to continue pandemic leave payments.

Acting Premier Susan Close says the state government will take that position to Monday's national cabinet meeting.

Premier Peter Malinauskas is on leave, but will break from his holiday to take part in the cabinet discussions.

"We are expecting an interesting and lively discussion as the pandemic reaches yet another difficult phase," Ms Close said on Friday.

"We would support an extension of the pandemic leave."

Ms Close said SA also expected some discussion about the continued free supply of rapid antigen tests to concession card holders, which the federal government will cease at the end of July.

But she gave no indication that the state government would step in and provide the tests. It already provides free tests to anyone regarded a close contact of a COVID-19 positive case.

While pressure is mounting on the federal government to reinstate pandemic leave payments for workers needing to isolate, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stood firm in saying the $750 handouts for seven days would not return.

The PM has cited budget pressures and also pointed to the previous government's plan to end the payments on June 30.

Ms Close said the state government understood the Commonwealth's tough budgetary situation but did see a case for ongoing support.

"Just during this next phase for those people who don't have sick leave," she said.

"That's because it is so important that people are in a position to isolate if they have the virus and that they not have a disincentive to find out if they have the virus."

SA is in the midst of a new wave of Omicron cases following the arrival of the BA.4 and BA.5 variants.

Latest modelling suggests the peak of that wave will hit around Tuesday next week when daily cases could rise as high as 6000.

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