Changes to close-contact isolation rules for people exposed to COVID-19 are likely to be consistent across the eastern states, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has said.
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The ACT cabinet was briefed by Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman on Wednesday, and there will be further discussions after the Easter long weekend.
Mr Barr said the ACT was working with the other states and territories, particularly on the eastern seaboard, because those jurisdictions were in largely similar pandemic situations.
The Chief Minister said he expected an announcement on future close-contact isolation rules would be made in a week's time.
There was not a straightforward answer on adjusting the close contact rules which was a "complex" issue, and while there were pros and cons to any decision, the ACT government recognised the need to keep the economy moving, he said.
"We're receiving the same advice as the other states and territories, so it's likely there'll be a consistent position across NSW, Victoria, Queensland and the ACT," Mr Barr told ABC radio on Thursday.
ACT Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee said the decision needed to be guided by the health advice, but businesses had indicated it was "almost impossible to continue with their operations with the current rules".
"These are areas that definitely need to be looked at ... We need to be realistic about living with COVID," Ms Lee said.
NSW has indicated it could drop isolation requirements for more industries ahead of other states, but the plan could hinge on decisions taken in Victoria.
Victoria and NSW are the two most populous states in Australia but the chief health officers from all seven states and territories sit on the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, chaired by chief medical officer Professor Paul Kelly.
That committee is reviewing close contact isolation rules around the country.
The AHPPC said last month it supports phased changes to remove the routine quarantine requirements for all close contacts of positive cases, who have to isolate for seven days even if they test negative.
The committee said the appropriate time to implement changes would not be until after the anticipated peak of the COVID-19 BA.2 sub-variant of concern.
The ACT reported 1073 COVID-19 infections in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday. There were 61 people in Canberra hospitals, including two people receiving ventilation support in intensive care.
with AAP
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Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
