The Australian Industry Group has welcomed the State Government's sensible and practical changes to the way close contacts of COVID-19 cases are managed in Victoria.
The State Government has announced that non-household primary close contacts of a COVID-19 case, who are fully vaccinated, will need to quarantine for seven days, replacing the previous 14 days edict.
The Victorian Head of the Australian Industry Group, Tim Piper said: "This change was something Ai Group had been lobbying for, and it makes practical sense for everybody, especially those in the food and logistics sectors.
"New arrangements are already working in the supermarket industry. This decision will help to ensure that businesses don’t need to isolate workers for unnecessarily long periods. Seven days isolation is much better than 14.
"However, the Government should continue working to ensure isolation requirements are reduced even further.
"At some stage soon – hopefully in the next month – fully vaccinated people should need only show they have tested negative to return to work. Fully vaccinated workers should be allowed to benefit from their vaccination status.
"A number of senior Victorian economic ministers have supported the reduction in isolation requirements and recognised the benefit it would bring to the community and to business.
"These changes will help to ensure we don't see food and other shortages in the lead up to Christmas and that we keep essential industries such as the waste industry running smoothly," Mr Piper said.
Further comment
Tim Piper – 0411 430 301
