NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has warned this winter’s flu strain could be more serious than Covid-19 – as he calls on Australia to review the seven-day pandemic isolation rule.
During an interview with 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Monday, Mr Perrottet argued that the current strain of flu was ‘more serious than current strains of Covid’ but, under the country’s health rules, Australians must take self-isolate for seven days after infection with the virus.
Mr Perrottet said he had raised the issue of the country’s Covid isolation rule with national cabinet leaders over the weekend, however, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was “not time” to reduce the schedule.
Mr Perrottet wants Australians to only have to self-isolate for five days after testing positive for Covid.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has warned this season’s flu outbreak is, in some cases, more serious than Covid-19
“We have to consider reducing this period, because Covid is not going away,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The advice we have been given is that he will be here for a few more years.
“As we move through the next phase of the pandemic, we need to balance competing health issues – mental health issues, our children’s academic performance, giving people the opportunity to go to work.
“We need to get to a cultural point where there’s a greater acceptance that if you’re sick and you have flu-like symptoms, you don’t go to work, you stay home until you go. better”, explained Mr. Perrottet. .
“Now that has been culturally something in the past, but we need to put more emphasis on it so we can move away from mandates.”
Mr Perrottet said he hoped Australia would be able to relax the seven-day isolation rule by the end of September.
Dominic Perrottet says he hopes isolation requirements for Covid-19 can be reduced by the end of September
On Monday, Mr Albanese said clear medical advice was “definitely not the time” to reduce the period of isolation, with infections rising across Australia.
“The advice from the chief medical officer…was that now was definitely not the time to reconsider (the period of isolation),” he told Adelaide’s Radio fiveAA on Monday.
“This is something that health officials will continue to review.”
Access to COVID-19 isolation payments will resume from the end of this week as health authorities try to stop the growing spread of virus cases across the country.
Employees who have tested positive for the virus and need to self-isolate from their jobs can receive the $750 payment, which will be available starting Wednesday.
It comes after the federal government agreed to extend isolation payments until the end of September. The scheme had expired on June 30.
With rising COVID cases, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says isolation period will not be reviewed
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said payments were reinstated following health advice on the rising number of COVID-19 cases caused by a more infectious strain of the Omicron subvariant.
He said the federal government would work collaboratively with state and territory governments to help manage the third wave of Omicron cases.
The return of isolation payments will result in a $780 million price tag, but the cost will be split between the federal, state and territory governments.
The government initially said it did not want to reintroduce the payments due to pressure on the federal budget.
Mr Albanese did not say whether the September 30 deadline for payments would be extended.
The number of cases continues to increase due to Omicron’s BA.4 and BA.5 strains.
Over the weekend, more than 78,000 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded, with 107 deaths recorded.
More than 337,000 active cases have been reported, while 4,700 people were hospitalized with the virus.
Experts said that the peak of the new wave of Omicron is not expected to reach at least the end of July.
There has been a 99% increase in hospitalizations with COVID in the state since June 22.
‘We can’t force people to sit at home forever’: 2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham calls for end to Covid isolation rule
By 2GB Breakfast Host Ben Fordham
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese backtracked on a Covid policy over the weekend.
It brought back the $750 payment for people who test positive and face 7-day mandatory isolation.
It’s for people who don’t earn sick pay.
So occasional and independent traders.
The Prime Minister extended it until the end of September.
And I support that.
But here is the larger problem.
When do we start making a hard call here?
The current system sends us broke.
We are forcing people to sit at home for a week after testing positive.
99% of them have mild symptoms.
And then we have to compensate them for the missing work.
It is unbearable.
This latest policy reversal will cost taxpayers $780 million.
2GB host Ben Fordham says Australia needs to simplify things and scrap seven-day isolation rule for those who test positive for Covid
Sometime very soon – we need to simplify things.
When you are sick, you stay home.
And when you’re better, you come to work.
That’s how it works with the flu.
This is how it has to work with the coronavirus.
There are no strict isolation rules in America, the UK, Sweden, Denmark or Norway.
They returned to normal.
We cling to the old restrictions.
The purpose of the injection was to reduce the severity of the virus.
95% of us get a double dose.
More than 60% had a recall.
And a fourth dose is available for people over 30.
Yes, the number of cases is high.
But the flu can also kill people!
And we don’t dictate how long you have to stay home when you get the flu.
And we don’t give anyone $750 a week for that.
New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet told us this morning:
“In many cases right now, the current flu strand is more severe than the current COVID strands.”
We cannot force people to sit at home forever.
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