ACT government to examine NSW and Victoria household contact rule changes before making decision

Territory authorities are still expected to confirm changes to isolation rules for household contacts before the end of the week.

Rules changes were announced in both NSW and Victoria on Wednesday morning, with household contacts of positive COVID cases no longer required to isolate from this weekend.

But the ACT government will not move to announce any changes on Wednesday, despite wanting consistent settings with NSW and Victoria.

Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said ACT authorities still aimed for consistency but the territory would not rush to announce any changes.

She said territory authorities wanted to understand how other jurisdictions would be implementing measures, such as what elements would be part of a legal direction and what would be in guidance material.

"The ACT government is keen to ensure that ACT public health directions are consistent with settings in NSW and Victoria to the greatest extent possible, taking account of our local circumstances," Ms Stephen-Smith said.

"While there has been close engagement between officials, and I also spoke with the NSW and Victorian Health Ministers [on Tuesday], the final detail on their announcements was only available this morning.

"We have been planning to make an announcement later in the week and we will have more detail on this when we have worked through exactly what other jurisdictions are proposing, especially NSW.

"While we will aim for consistency, we are also conscious that we need to be able to answer a range of questions when an announcement is made and therefore will not rush the announcement or implementation of any changes."

Ms Stephen-Smith said ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman briefed the Security and Emergency Management Committee of Cabinet on Wednesday morning on expected announcements and local considerations.

Under the NSW changes, household contacts of positive COVID cases will no longer need to isolate from 6pm on Friday. However, they will need to do daily rapid antigen tests and wear masks when they are not at home. Household contacts will also be barred from visiting high-risk settings such as hospitals and aged care facilities.

Similar changes will come into place in Victoria at 11.59pm on Friday. Close contacts there must record at least five negative rapid antigen tests in the seven days after being deemed a close contact.

Ms Stephen-Smith said similar measures would also be in place in the territory.

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In addition to changes to the household contact settings, NSW will also lift public health orders requiring key workers, such as teachers and health staff, to be vaccinated. There will still be some vaccine mandates but this will be determined on individual risk under occupational work health and safety.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the isolation rules had been necessary but the high vaccination rate had allowed for the changes.

"This will provide immediate relief for so many workforces and businesses who have been hit hard by labour shortages as people are forced to isolate because they are a household contact," Mr Perrottet said.

"As the pandemic has evolved so has our response and this is another example where we have been able to make necessary changes safely and in a measured way."

ACT Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee said it was important for the territory to have consistency with NSW.

"We respect the health advice that is guiding restrictions and isolation requirements," she said.

"It is important for our community and for businesses to have consistency with NSW and other east coast states. It has been a really difficult few years for everyone; but businesses are also contending with isolation requirements taking out their workforces too.

"Canberrans deserve leadership and certainty from this Labor-Greens government, not silence."

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