NSW and Victoria are relaxing their COVID-19 restrictions that require a household contact (that is someone who lives in the same home as a positive COVID-19 case) to isolate for seven days .However, in both states, a positive case of COVID-19 must still isolate for seven days.
In the latest round of winding down restrictions – which both states have adopted with slightly different conditions – household close contacts will be free to leave the home but must still perform regular rapid antigen tests.
The rules also apply to people who have been deemed to be a close contact.
In NSW household and close contacts will no longer need to isolate for seven days from 6pm Friday 22 April.
In Victoria household and close contacts will no longer need to isolate for seven days from 11.59pm on Friday 22 April.
While the mandatory isolation period is being scrapped, there are still some conditions remaining.
In NSW household, contacts must wear a face mask in all indoor settings outside the home, undertake a rapid antigen test daily, and are not allowed to visit aged care homes, hospitals, disability or correctional facilities.
In Victoria, household contacts must also wear a face mask when outside the home but in an indoor setting, they must avoid all “sensitive” settings such as aged care and hospitals, and they must perform five rapid antigen tests over the course of seven days.
In NSW it is advised for household contacts to work from home “where practical”. Critical or essential workers will not be required to have a formal exemption but must still comply with rules set in place by their employer.
In Victoria it is also recommended for close contacts to work from home if possible. Masks remain “strongly recommended” when a person cannot physically distance.