COVID-19 update - September 2022

 

The latest COVID-19 updates have been circulated by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

 

Federal

• A Moderna Omicron booster has been provisionally approved for use in adults aged 18 and over. Supplies are expected to arrive in the coming weeks, however the ATAGI is yet to advise the government on how the vaccine will be used. 
• The health, social, educational and economic impacts of long COVID and repeated COVID infections will be the focus of a new inquiry by the House Health Committee. Submissions from individuals and organisations are invited by 18 November 2022. More information available here. 
• Australian states and territories are no longer going to publish daily COVID-19 case numbers, with health ministers deciding to move to weekly updates on new infections. The final daily case numbers was issued on Friday 9 September, and the first weekly report will be made available on Friday 16September. The new weekly figures, which will be consistently reported across jurisdictions, will include case numbers, new and total deaths, vaccination rates, and a breakdown of ICU and ventilated patients in hospital. 
• The AHPPC noted that no changes are recommended to the management of close contacts. Close contacts should continue to monitor for symptoms, avoid high-risk settings, wear a mask when outside the home, test for COVID-19 and stay at home should symptoms develop. 

 

Jurisdictional Updates

Queensland

Isolation period and notifying workplace:

• People who test positive must wear a mask when they leave home for seven days after their isolation period ends — that goes for indoor settings as well as outdoors when they can't stay physically distanced from others. 
• There are exemptions for people affected by a medical condition or disability.

People 12 years and older must wear a mask in the following settings: 

• In healthcare settings, residential aged care, disability accommodation, prisons or detention centres 
• On public transport, including while waiting on the platform or at a stop 
• In a taxi, rideshare vehicle or commercial shuttle, including while waiting at a taxi rank or pick-up area 

People must wear a mask when outside of their home or accommodation if: 

• They have a temperature equal to or higher than 37.5 degrees 
• They have COVID-19 symptoms 
• They're awaiting a COVID-19 PCR test result 
• If they're diagnosed with COVID-19, are a close contact, or are an international traveller (in accordance with other public health directions) 

People who test positive must wear a mask when they leave home for seven days after their isolation period ends — that goes for indoor settings as well as outdoors when they can't stay physically distanced from others. 

There are exemptions for people affected by a medical condition or disability.

Other:

• The QLD government has proposed a Public Health and Other Legislation (COVID-19 Management) Amendment Bill to reflect the government’s approach to manage COVID after 31 October. 
• A blanket COVID-19 vaccine mandate direction for private health care workers would be lifted meaning decisions around vaccination in those settings would be up to employers. This took effect on 2 September.

 

South Australia

Isolation period and notifying workplace:

• The SA premier stated that the isolation rules would be reassessed on September 30 with a possibility that requirements could be further slashed or completely abolished. 
• If you are a close contact you must wear a mask when you leave the house for seven days after exposure.

It is mandatory for all people to wear masks in the following settings: 

• Health care services 
• Pharmacies 
• Disability care facilities 
• Residential aged care facilities 
• Passenger transport services – buses, trains, trams, taxis, rideshare, and other hire or charter vehicle arrangements 
• If you are a close contact you must wear a mask when you leave the house for seven days after exposure

 

Victoria

Isolation period and notifying workplace:

• From 11.59pm on Thursday 8 September, the self-isolation period for positive COVID-19 cases who don’t have symptoms on day five of their isolation reduced from seven to five days – excluding people who work in high-risk settings. 
• Anyone leaving isolation after five days cannot visit or work at a sensitive setting – such as hospitals, residential aged care, disability care settings or in-home care for the next two days, or if they have COVID-19 symptoms. 
• People who work in other settings must notify their workplace that they have completed isolation if they are attending work on site. 
• As an additional risk mitigation, people who leave isolation after five days are recommended to undertake rapid antigen testing in the days following their isolation and test negative before attending their workplace or other settings of higher risk, and to wear a mask in indoor settings outside the home – in line with existing recommendations. 
• There are no changes to the current isolation requirements for close contacts, who can continue to leave home each day, provided they continually test negative on a rapid antigen test. 
• Confirmed cases must also notify their workplace that they have completed self-isolation if attending work onsite.

People aged eight years and older must wear masks in the following settings:

• On public transport, in taxis/rideshare services and in tourism vehicles 
• While visiting a hospital, care facility or any other indoor space that is publicly accessible in a healthcare setting, including allied health settings 
• In a public indoor space if you are a close contact of a COVID-19 case 
• Working in an indoor space that is a publicly accessible area of a court or justice centre 
• Working in a resident-facing role in an indoor space at a care facility, including when not interacting with residents 
• Working in an indoor space at a prison, police jail, remand centre, youth residential centre, youth justice centre or post-sentence facility 
• After being tested for COVID-19 and awaiting results 
• If you have COVID-19 or are a close or household contact and are permitted to leave quarantine (for example, because you have tested negative on a rapid antigen test)

Work from home:

• The Victorian Government is encouraging Victorians to safely return to the office, with work from home recommendations now lifted.  

Other:

• The pandemic declaration will remain until at least the existing date of 12 October, prior to which new advice will be requested. 
• Daily COVID data will continue to be published on Twitter and on the Department of Health website.

 

Western Australia

Isolation period and notifying workplace:

• In line with National Cabinet’s decision, isolation period has been reduced to five days from 9 September for people with no symptoms. 
• People may only enter high-risk facilities such as hospitals, residential aged care facilities and disability support accommodation facilities after seven days from when they are identified as a case or close contact to protect very vulnerable people. 
• Visitor limits eased at aged and disability care facilities from 2 September.

Masks will only be required in high-risk settings such as: 

• Hospitals 
• Healthcare settings 
• Facilities for corrective services 
• Residential aged care 
• Disability services

Other:

• Residential aged and disability care visitation limits have also been eased, with no restrictions on the number of visits per day. Still, the limit of two people per visit will remain.

 

Tasmania

Mask mandates have largely been scaled back, but masks are still required for the following people: 

• Close contacts of COVID-19 cases, in any indoor space outside your home 
• Confirmed COVID-19 cases, in circumstances where they may come into contact with, or expose others to, COVID-19

 

Northern Territory

Isolation period and notifying workplace:

• Masks must be worn when outside the home for five days after isolation.

Face masks are mandatory in the following high-risk settings: 

• Hospitals and health care facilities 
• Aged care facilities 
• Disability residential facilities 
• Correctional facilities 
• Family violence, sobering up and homeless shelters 
• Masks must also be worn when outside the home for five days after isolation

 

New South Wales

Masks are required: 

• At a public hospital or private health facility (including private hospitals and day procedure centres) 
• In residential care facilities or hostels 
• On public transport and public transport waiting areas (including in taxis and rideshare services) 
• At a cruise terminal 
• People over the age of 12 who are a household or close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 must wear a face mask when in an indoor setting outside their home

 

Australian Capital Territory

Masks are mandatory in the following settings: 

• On public transport, including a public bus, light rail vehicle, taxi, rideshare vehicle, hire car or demand response service vehicle 
• Staff and visitors entering a high-risk setting including hospitals, residential aged care facilities, correctional centres and residential accommodation facilities for people who require frequent, close personal care and who are vulnerable to severe disease 
• Staff who are providing a service to a person with a disability which is funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme or provided by the ACT government 
• Staff who are working for an in-home and community aged care provider 
• Household contacts of COVID-19 cases aged 12 years and over must wear a mask in any indoor setting outside their home.