Hospitality union seeks changes to isolation rules, but states reluctant to change
With confidence among the medical fraternity growing that the winter Omicron wave is easing, the hospitality industry will now lobby national cabinet to pare back COVID-19 isolation rules.
However chief medical officer Paul Kelly warned “this will not be the last wave” and that hospitals will remain impacted for some time to come.
In light of this, Restaurant and Catering chief executive Belinda Clarke says cabinet should be looking at at new ways of isolating and will make a submission in coming weeks.
“We’ve been looking at other countries and ways they’re managing isolation, such as reducing … requirements with those people who don’t have symptoms. We need to manage this and we need to work with Covid in the next few years,” Clarke said.
Restaurant and Catering represents more than 55,000 cafes, restaurants and catering businesses.
Clarke told The Australian, “We need to be looking forward. We need to give businesses recovery … give them the confidence to keep going. Without that there’s very little hope for them.”
Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond was also hopeful of easing the rules, however, will be guided by health advice.
“Being able to reduce the isolation period, providing it was considered safe and appropriate from the health authorities, may … assist in managing the employee shortages in so many parts of the tourism sector,” Osmond said.
Professor Kelly is becoming “increasingly confident we have reached the peak”.
“Certainly the actual data that we’re seeing, particularly hospital admissions decreasing in all states over the last few days and week, support that,” he said.
“This is coming towards the end of this wave, or peaking of this wave. There will be a tail in hospitals, many older people with many other diseases other than Covid have been admitted. That’s the word we’re getting from clinicians on the ground. But this will not be the last wave. And we will continue to have to plan for that, be ready to know when that’s happening and to respond to it accordingly.”
WA has already stated it will not ease back isolation rules.
WA chief health officer Andy Robertson told ABC radio, “If we bring it back to, say, five days we’re going to have a lot more infection in the community.”
“I know people are often well by day five and they’re frustrated they can’t go back to work or back to school, but (those extra two days are) actually helping to protect the community.”
South Australia is unlikely to move on rule changes either.
SA Health Minister Chris Picton said, “I want to make clear how important following isolation rules are to reduce pressure on the health system and help our hardworking frontline doctors, nurses and ambos.”
Most states see the move as premature.
Irit Jackson, 10th August 2022
