The Albanese Government has announced an easing of the COVID isolation period from seven to five days, with mask-wearing mandates also being relaxed, but the Rural Doctors Association of Australia says that caution is still needed going forward.
RDAA President Dr Megan Belot said it was encouraging to see the government continuing to strive to get the nation back to normal, but that further monitoring is required.
‘COVID has really affected the lives of all Australians over the past two and a half years,’ said Dr Belot, ‘and we acknowledge that everyone wants to return to “business as usual” as soon as possible. Unfortunately we still have many thousands of COVID cases in the community and the last thing we need is for this to get further out of hand.
‘It is possible with this recent change we will see another uplift in cases, particularly in the short term,’ she said.
‘We hope that the government will look to other countries and how they are managing seasonal changes, such as increased winter restrictions when people are often in closer quarters, to keep COVID cases at a manageable level.
‘It is important to know that the five-day isolation applies only if you have no symptoms – so if you are unwell, continue to stay home – and people who work in vulnerable settings, like aged care and disability care, will still need to isolate for seven days,’ said Dr Belot.
‘Unfortunately, it will often fall to employers and their management staff now to take responsibility for this, and send anyone home who returns to work prematurely, in an effort to prevent other staff and customers being exposed.’
No more masks on local flights
Another significant change announced by the government was the removal of mask-wearing mandate for domestic flights.
‘While mask-wearing on flights will no longer be required we still remind people to remain cautious in indoor settings such as on planes and other areas where people are in close quarters, as COVID will continue to circulate in the community and these are high-risk environments,’ said Dr Belot.
‘Continue to social distance, wear a mask when needed, and hand sanitise to protect yourself against infection.
‘COVID has demonstrated the vulnerability in Australia’s health system, particularly across rural areas, with wide-spread shortages of GPs resulting in delayed patient care and increased presentations to ermergency services in public hospitals,’ she said.
‘Patients are presenting to their GP more unwell than previously, because COVID has created such increased demand on an ever decreasing number of doctors, patients often simply can’t get an appointment at an earlier date.
‘The pandemic continues to highlight the need for urgent investment in rural general practice to ensure rural Australians are able to access quality care close to home as they need it,’ said Dr Belot.
