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AAP
AAP
Health
Emily Woods

Vic opposition leader in COVID isolation

Victoria's opposition leader has questioned the need for close contact isolation rules, as he begins his first day of seven in home quarantine.

Liberal leader Matthew Guy's nine-year-old son tested positive on Tuesday, making him a close contact who must isolate for a week.

Premier Daniel Andrews is also isolating for a week after testing positive for COVID-19 on Monday.

Mr Guy has returned negative rapid antigen tests every day and believes he should not have to undergo isolation if his results are not positive and he is not showing symptoms.

"If you're doing a test and you're negative, and you feel fine, then you should get on with life," he told reporters in an video call press conference.

"We'll never get on with our lives, we'll never recover and rebuild, if we have laws that say, just because you live someone who with someone who's unwell, you're going to isolate."

Mr Guy said of the close contact isolation rules: "Other states don't have them, the rest of the world in many parts does not have them."

However, every Australian state and territory requires household contacts to isolate for seven days under the national cabinet agreed definition of a close contact.

Mr Guy plans to return to work for parliament sitting week next Tuesday. His deputy David Southwick will act as party leader.

Victoria recorded 10,916 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday and another five deaths.

There are 284 virus patients in the state's hospitals, an increase of 32 from Monday's figures, with 33 in ICU and six on ventilators.

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