Huge Covid rule change not ruled out

The Prime Minister has been under pressure to slash the isolation time frame from seven to five days after a high-profile intervention from NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet.

But speaking to 5AA radio on Monday, Mr Albanese said the experts didn’t back Mr Perrottet’s call at this stage.

“The advice that is there from the chief medical officer … was that now is certainly not the time for that to be reconsidered,” he told 5AA radio.

“That’s something that health officials will continue to look at.

“But given the increased spread of the Covid virus in over recent times … expected to peak over the coming weeks, now it’s not the time to change those provisions which are there.”

The US was the first to slash the quarantine period to five days last year and was soon followed by the UK in January in a bid to ease staff shortages.

Speaking to 2GB earlier, Mr Perrottet urged the federal government to consider a similar policy, given the current strain of influenza was “more severe” than Covid.

“As we move through the next phase of the pandemic we need to balance up the competing health issues,” Mr Perrottet said.

“At the moment, the current strand of influenza is more severe than the current strands of Covid.“

Last week, the Health Minister warned that millions of Australians were likely to catch the virus over the coming six weeks.

On Sunday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews indicated he would be open to a review of isolation rules.

“We’re going to get to a point where we don’t have to isolate, but you’ve got to do that at a time that is safe,” he said.

“You have to isolate at this point in time because it would just put unbearable pressure on our nurses, and no one wants to do that.”

Meanwhile, Mr Albanese defended his government’s decision to reinstate the $750 paid pandemic leave payment, doubling down that its previously planned end date was “inherited” from the Morrison government.

“When we received advice from the chief medical officer and other health officials … we acted very quickly to convene a meeting of the national cabinet,” he said.

“I’m pleased that all of the premiers and chief ministers agreed with the proposal to reinstate it, limited until the 30th of September.”

Originally published as Anthony Albanese says now is not the time to slash Covid isolation period