As Western Australia's COVID-19 Omicron outbreak continues to grow, rules surrounding close contacts, isolation and testing protocols are set to change.
In WA, a close contact is currently defined as someone who has had face-to-face contact or has shared a close space with a positive case for any amount of time.
On Friday, Premier Mark McGowan announced a revised definition will come into effect when the state reaches a "high caseload".
When that threshold is reached, a person will only be designated a close contact if they:
- are a household member or intimate partner of a person with COVID-19 who has had contact with them during their infectious period
- have had close personal interaction with someone with COVID-19 during their infectious period for more than 15 minutes face-to-face without a mask, or 2 hours in a small room while mask-less
- have been notified by WA Health based on specific circumstances.
However, the government is yet to define what that "high caseload" will be.
Mr McGowan said that time would be determined based on the advice of the Chief Health Officer.
"There is no hard number of cases that define what a high caseload environment is.
"It would be a combination of average case numbers, the extent to which they can be linked, and the amount of time cases are infectious in the community."
How is WA different from other states?
Western Australia's future close contact definition strays from the national definition agreed upon in December, while adopting elements of South Australia's approach.
Mr McGowan said the new rules were based on how different guidelines across the country had affected the spread of COVID-19.
"South Australia has done something different," Mr McGowan said.
"They've reduced the spread of the virus because they've adopted different guidelines in a range of ways.
"The national guidelines were largely around New South Wales and Victoria, which have tens of thousands of cases a day.
"We've had the opportunity to look at what's been put in place nationally and the South Australian guidelines, and perhaps adopt a middle course between the two."
What do the new rules mean?
When they are introduced, the new close contact definition will also come with new rules for who needs to isolate, and for how long:
Confirmed positive case: Self-isolate for seven days — if you do not have any symptoms after day seven, you can leave isolation.
Close contact with symptoms: Self-isolate for seven days from the date of contact and take a PCR or rapid antigen test as soon as possible. If you and all household members test negative on day seven, you can leave isolation.
Close contact with no symptoms: Self-isolate for seven days from the date of contact. If still asymptomatic by day seven, take a rapid antigen test.
Symptomatic but not a close contact: Take a PCR test immediately and isolate until you receive a negative result.
Casual contact: Casual contacts will no longer be subject to any requirements, which means being at an exposure site at the same time as someone who tests positive doesn't necessarily mean you will need to get tested or isolate.
"Critical workers" — those who provide essential goods and services — will be exempt from isolation requirements if they do not have any symptoms.
This includes people working in emergency services, public transport, schools and childcare, healthcare, residential care and other sectors.
However, they will be required to undertake daily rapid antigen testing, wear surgical masks outside of their home and isolate while not at work.
Mr McGowan said workplaces would be required to determine the number of staff they have which fit into this category.
"[An] online registration system will be set up ahead of [the new] restrictions coming into place," he said.
What about schools?
The state government will also introduce three new contact definitions specific to schools.
Education Minister Sue Ellery said the arrangement was intended to keep schools open for children to continue attending.
"Schools will be the first to open, and the last to close. We will not be closing our schools," she said.
"This is so important to children's learning, social and emotional development, overall wellbeing, and physical and mental health."
These new school-based close contact definitions and isolation rules will apply to both public and private schools:
Classroom contact: A student or staff member who has shared a classroom — or early childhood education room — with a positive case for one class period or more.
One-on-one contact: A student or staff member who has worked one-on-one with a positive case, such as a student with an education assistant, while masks were not consistently worn.
Workplace contact: Any school staff member or worker who spends more than 15 minutes indoors in close proximity, without a mask, with an adult who has tested positive.
Ms Ellery said students and staff would still be encouraged to attend school if they had no symptoms, but to restrict activities outside of school.
"For example, not participating in external activities and not taking public transport," she said.
Daily rapid antigen testing will be required for staff deemed as classroom or workplace contacts with no symptoms, and must quarantine while not at work.
Staff designated as one-on-one contacts will be required to isolate for seven days.
"At this point, the use of RATs in schools will be for managing the policy in respect to staff," Ms Ellery said.
She flagged the possibility of expanding the use of rapid antigen tests to students as a surveillance tool.
"Victoria and New South Wales are returning to school with a four-week trial … that's twice a week [testing] for all students and staff," she said.
School-based close contacts who have symptoms under any category will need to get tested, remain in isolation and repeat another test 24 hours later.
More information on isolation and testing requirements for each type of contact can be found here.
Why are the rules changing?
Nurses, schools and businesses in Western Australia have been calling for more certainty, as Omicron cases continue to spread throughout the community.
Under the state's current close contact definition — which will remain in place until the "high caseload" scenario arrives — potential staffing shortages due to isolation requirements mean businesses would be more vulnerable to shutdowns than in other states and territories.
Mr McGowan said the new definitions, isolation rules and allowances for critical workers to continue working as close contacts if they are asymptomatic were intended to transition West Australians towards life with more community transmission of COVID-19.
"Changing the definitions and isolation protocols … gives us the best chance to balance the community risk and the need to reduce the impact on businesses and the daily life of West Australians," he said.
However, there are still calls for more detail around when the new rules will be introduced.
In a statement addressing the announcement, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA said businesses needed clarity on what a "high caseload" would be.
"To understand how workable these rules will be, it is critical we understand these thresholds," the statement said.
