But Australia’s expert health panel has urged governments to refrain from easing any restrictions until the current Covid wave passes.The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) on Friday revealed it believed the appropriate time to lift restrictions further would be in the weeks after the anticipated peak of the current Omicron BA.2 surge.It said forecasting suggested this current wave will peak around mid-April in many jurisdictions.The advice comes just days after opposition leader Matthew Guy used his son’s Covid diagnosis to call to change the settings for household contacts.The AHPCC committee — made up of the nation’s chief health officers — said it supported “phased changes” that moved towards implementing targeted testing and removing quarantine requirements for close contacts, but said an immediate lifting may lead to higher caseloads and further disruption to the health system.“Making changes, including changes to quarantine settings, that will result in increased transmission in the community at a time when cases are already increasing or are at their peak, may result in further disruption to the health system,” it said in a statement.“The resulting escalation in case numbers is likely to increase, rather than decrease, any disruptions to broader societal functioning.”Once Victoria passes the peak of its current wave, AHPPC recommended quarantine could be replaced with other measures including frequent rapid antigen testing, mask wearing, working at home and limiting access to high-risk settings.The decision to lift the close contact isolation requirement lies with the state government.On Friday, a Liberal party spokesman said: “We note the recommendation but continue to advocate that if you have no symptoms and a negative RAT you should be able to decide for yourself whether or not to quarantine”.Health Minister Martin Foley accused Mr Guy of wanting to change the health orders “just because it suits him”.“Matthew Guy only makes decisions based on what affects him, not in the best interests of the Victorian community,” Mr Foley said.“It’s time the Liberal Party stopped making health policy on the run and started to pay attention to what the nation’s health experts say is best for the community.”The more transmissible Omicron BA.2 variant is well established in the Victorian community as the dominant strain.While it has led to a spike in cases over recent weeks, it hasn’t translated to a big increase in hospitalisationsCurrently, 61,308 Victorians have Covid but just 310 are in hospital, including 12 in ICU and three on a ventilator.Industry groups said removing the isolation requirement would alleviate staff shortages and help businesses continue to recover.Victorian Chamber chief executive Paul Guerra said: “As business continues to take strides in our recovery, we need to see every barrier removed so we can continue to accelerate out.”
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