ScoMo plots overhaul of close contacts

National cabinet will convene on Thursday to discuss a range of issues relating to the “Omicron effect” and the stresses a surging caseload has placed on the nation’s testing and health regimes.

This includes potential changes to the definition of what constitutes a close contact and the appropriate trigger points for isolating health and hospitality staff.

Mr Morrison also used Wednesday’s press conference to reiterate that rapid antigen testing would be the way forward as virus numbers continue to surge and the suitability of more stringent PCR tests changes.

However, the Prime Minister was quick to add that the supply of at-home rapid antigen tests – or lack of supply in certain jurisdictions – was not a Commonwealth responsibility.

Limited supply of the quicker but less accurate tests has been a key frustration for states as they move away from PCR to ease the burden on health systems, and hopefully alleviate hours-long lines for testing.

“The testing regimes are run by the state and territory governments,” Mr Morrison said on Wednesday when asked about supply constraints.

“The Commonwealth has responsibilities for the provision of the vaccines and supporting the testing arrangements that sit in residential aged care facilities, we‘re meeting our responsibilities.”

The announcement of Thursday’s meeting comes as Queensland, NSW, South Australia, and Victoria all smash their daily Covid case numbers, while the national caseload approaches 20,000 ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations.

While Mr Morrison admitted the Omicron phase of the pandemic had sent infections soaring, he noted the number of people presenting to hospitals had not followed suit.

“As we have consistently said in the course of Omicron, the issue is not the number of cases, the issue is the incidents of serious disease. It is the incidents of impacts on our hospital system in particular in the ICUs,” he said.

“We of course will continue to see cases rise but those cases are not translating into the sort of serious disease and are proportional impact on our hospital system.”

Mr Morrison has been roasted by opponents for an apparent failure to secure a larger supply of rapid antigen tests, particularly as more states move away from stringent PCR testing to free up their health systems.

Queensland on Wednesday joined SA in scrapping the need for interstate arrivals to return a more time-consuming negative PCR test, with a rapid antigen test the only requirement for arrivals to the Sunshine State from January 1.

The surge in Covid cases over the past week – as well as public holiday service closures and onerous travel requirements – has taken testing clinics across the nation to breaking point.

Victoria has since announced it has purchased 34 million rapid antigen tests – which it will distribute for free to those who need them most – and NSW has 20 million.

The Australian health protections policy committee of state and territory chief health officers will meet on Wednesday to present recommendations to national cabinet.

Originally published as Scott Morrison plots overhaul of close contacts and isolation rules