Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says national cabinet has agreed to remove mandatory mask wearing on domestic flights, while pandemic leave disaster payment eligibility will be changed to reflect the new isolation period.
Look back on the events as they unfolded with our live blog.
Key events
Live updates
By Shiloh Payne
That's all for our blog
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By Shiloh Payne
Epidemiologist says research supports Isolation change
Deakin University Professor Catherine Bennet says new research supports that individuals without symptoms after the fifth day of isolation have a low risk of community transmission.
By Shiloh Payne
Donation to fund therapeutic treatments for COVID-19
The Doherty Institute says the largest philanthropic donation to medical research in Australian history will be used to develop antiviral and therapeutic treatments for diseases.
Melbourne University will use the $250 million donation made by investor, Geoff Cumming, to establish a new global medical research centre at the Doherty Institute.
The Institute's director, Sharon Lewin, says there needs to be more focus on viral treatments along with vaccines.
"We've looked at the levels of investment," Professer Lewin says.
"In the first year of the pandemic, our studies have shown there was an investment probable of about $137 billion in vaccine research for COVID as compared for $7 billion for therapeutics, so it's an area where there's significant under-investment."
By Shiloh Payne
Country 'less prepared' for next wave, expert says
Leading epidemiologist Nancy Baxter says the federal government's decision to reduce COVID-19 isolation periods from seven to five days means the country will be less prepared for the next wave of the virus.
The Melbourne University specialist told ABC Radio Melbourne 50 per cent of people with COVID-19 remain infectious after day five of the illness.
She says the new rules will result in a higher rate of infections at workplaces.
"If we have 13,000 cases of COVID today, that means 6,500 will continue to be infectious on day five and if they are going back to the workplace there is going to be increased transmission," Professor Baxter says.
By Shiloh Payne
Concerns over reduced isolation periods
Ahead of today's isolation announcement, the Australian Medical Association expressed concern, and its president Steve Robson says reduced isolation could worsen workforce shortages.
"We know there is significant potential for transmission, and it may be that the changes they have made will make work attendance worse, we will have to see from here," Professor Robson says.
"Almost a third of people on day six and seven after they contract COVID are still potentially infectious.
"Allowing people who perhaps have no symptoms but could still infect others into the workplace may not achieve what the government is hoping to achieve."
The United States maintains a five-day isolation requirement for positive cases, while the United Kingdom has scrapped mandatory isolation.
By Shiloh Payne
A closer look at pandemic payments
Support payments for people required to isolate will also be reduced from September 9.
The current pandemic leave payment of $750 is scheduled to end on September 30, but the Prime Minister says conversations on whether to extend that payment were continuing.
Services Australia will look into what future payments will look like.
The ABC understands the reduced payment will amount to about $540.
By Shiloh Payne
So what rules are actually changing?
Here's a breakdown of what we know so far:
- COVID-19 isolation requirements are changing from seven days to five, but there are some exceptions.
- The five-day isolation rules are for people who don't have any symptoms.
- People who work in vulnerable settings, like aged care and disability care, will still need to isolate for seven days.
- Mask restrictions have been lifted for domestic flights.
- The changes will be in effect from Friday, September 9
If you have symptoms, you should still be staying home.
By Shiloh Payne
Experts warn the pandemic won't end this year
Cases of COVID-19 are declining at the moment as winter comes to an end, but experts are warning the pandemic is here to stay.
Director of Victoria University's Mitchell Institute for Education and Health Policy Maximilian de Courten says every six months or so, a new variation is popping up, bringing a new wave.
"It's a numbers game – it's basically happening as an error in replication and the more virus there is out there, worldwide, the more likely that it's happening somewhere," he says.
"At the moment, there's still a lot of coronavirus out there."
By Shiloh Payne
Here's what you're saying
Beyond disappointing. Such a let down for us in risk groups. Feel thrown under the bus. So over this. - Jane
I visit my Dad in aged care every day and have a RAT before entering. I can't afford to get covid so am concerned about relaxing measures that reduce the spread. - Heather
It’s time to get on with normal life & build up some natural immunity get rid of masks & isolation, stay home if you are not well. look around & see how many people even know how to wear a mask. - Priscilla
If I’m being told to isolate by the government because of Covid then I want to be paid like every other person before me who got Covid and pandemic leave. I still need money to live if I’m being forced to isolate regardless 🤷🏼♀️ - Katie
By Shiloh Payne
That's all for the press conference
There's a bit to unpack so stick around while we look at what this all means.
If you want to read more on exactly what Albanese said, you can find our story here:
By Shiloh Payne
Why does the seven-day isolation rule stay for workers in high-risk settings?
Albanese says it comes down to the health advice.
"They are areas where you have people who are particularly vulnerable," Albanese says.
"We want to make sure that those sections which are vulnerable have been particularly looked after."
By Shiloh Payne
Comparing Australia's isolation rules to others
Albanese has been asked about COVID isolation rules overseas.
Here's the question:
It is now almost seven months since the UK scrapped all isolation requirements and they are doing fine. When is Australia able to trust its citizens to look after their own health and stay home if they are sick and feel like they need to?
Albanese says national cabinet will continue to assess the issues and what restrictions are appropriate.
By Shiloh Payne
Responding to COVID-19 'appropriately'
Albanese says national cabinet discussed that people need to start taking their health into their own hands.
"We had a discussion about people looking after each other. People looking after their own health, being responsible and making sure that they look after each other," Albanese says.
"What we want to do is to make sure that government responds to the changed circumstance. COVID likely is going to be around for a considerable period of time. And we need to respond appropriately to it."
By Shiloh Payne
Will paid pandemic leave be extended?
Albanese says the government is yet to decide whether paid pandemic leave will continue beyond September.
"There is a general view that we need to ensure that people are looked after who need to be looked after," he says.
"It is a matter of working those issues through and that is why we are meeting in a fortnight's time, because agreement of the extension of pandemic leave is due to conclude at the end of September.
"That provides plenty of time to have a discussion, particularly because as both the Commonwealth and state now, we share the funding responsibility for it."
By Shiloh Payne
Restrictions on mask-wearing on domestic flights have been lifted
Albanese says national cabinet has agreed to remove mandatory mask-wearing on domestic flights.
He says paid pandemic leave disaster payment eligibility will be changed to reflect the new isolation period.
"Services Australia will provide advice in 48 hours," he says.
"They'll work through by the end of Friday to be able to update the advice on their website."
By Shiloh Payne
Symptomatic cases should stay home, PM says
Albanese says people with symptoms should still stay home.
"Clearly, if you have symptoms, we want people to stay home," he says.
"We want people to act responsibly."
He says people who work in aged-care and disability care will still need to isolate for seven days if they have COVID-19.
By Shiloh Payne
The COVID-19 isolation period will be reduced from seven to five days for asymptomatic cases
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says national cabinet has agreed the seven days isolation will be reduced for asymptomatic people.
This excludes people who work in high-risk settings.
The changes will come into effect from Friday, September 9.
By Shiloh Payne
Watch the press conference
You can watch Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's press conference here:
By Shiloh Payne
Here are some of your thoughts on reducing COVID isolation rules
As someone who cares full time for an elderly father and lives with school age grandchildren and wiring daughter I am really hoping isolation period will not be reduced. I’m constantly on edge about contracting / spreading covid and cases are still alarmingly high. Surely numbers will go sky high if no one is isolating ?
- Daughter mother grandma
