Petition for returned mandatory COVID isolation to protect the vulnerable

With just under 13,000 signatures so far, the petition pleads with Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, to reintroduce mandatory COVID isolation as Australia has collectively recorded more than 58,000 new COVID cases last week.

Some States have also reported a doubling in the number of people hospitalised with the virus.

“The decision to end mandatory COVID isolation is a massive blow to the clinically vulnerable, their families, and their carers,” wrote petition founder, Kurt Friday.

“National Cabinet made its decision without consulting the AMA, AHPPC, or State Chief Health Officers. Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, gave National Cabinet the green light in a submission that is factually incorrect in parts. We call on all parties to do better.”

From October 14, people who tested positive for COVID no longer had to isolate.

But Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and XBB are predicted to soon overtake BA.5 as the dominant variants throughout Australia and State officials warned earlier this month that transmission of the virus is predicted to increase, prompting renewed warnings to protect vulnerable older people and aged care residents.

Australia is now seeing a new wave of COVID-19 case numbers among aged care residents in many parts of the country.

Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tom Symondson, says staff and visitors to aged care homes must remain vigilant and take every precaution to protect older people, which means keeping aged care staff who test positive safely away from the people they care for or support.

“Equally, I urge visitors to aged care homes to be patient and do whatever they are asked, either take a RAT test or wear a mask, before entering the home,” says Mr Symondson.

“We ask visitors to support staff in ensuring their loved ones are protected and remember to show your appreciation for their commitment in incredibly challenging circumstances.

Mr Symondson asked that while many in the community believe the pandemic has passed, that was not the reality for the aged care sector and he urged all aged care residents and staff to be up to date with their COVID vaccination.

“We urge aged care providers to follow the advice of health experts both Federally and in their jurisdiction in relation to managing positive COVID cases, including isolation periods for those who work in or visit aged care facilities,” he says.

Last month’s Federal Budget confirmed $1.4 billion of funding would be extended to support the aged care sector in managing COVID outbreaks until December 31.

This funding will ensure supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs), in-reach Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing, antiviral medication, and in-reach vaccination clinics for aged care facilities.

So what should you be doing to protect yourself and other who are medically vulnerable?

Queensland moves to amber on ‘traffic light’ system

If you live in Queensland, the Queensland Government has declared that the State has moved into the amber colour of the ‘traffic light’ system, meaning it is strongly recommended to wear a mask in populated areas.

This comes as hospital bed occupancy of COVID-19 patients has almost doubled in the last few weeks due to the new wave.

In Queensland, it is recommended that you wear a mask if you are:

• Older or medically at risk
• In a healthcare setting like a doctor’s surgery or a hospital
• Indoors and you cannot socially distance
• Using public transport
• Around people who are vulnerable to COVID-19

The ‘traffic light’ system provides advice on what you should do to reduce the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19.

It is comprised of three colour stages — green, amber and red, and is based on the current level of risk in the community.

Victoria has recorded an 18.1 percent increase in hospitalisations which has been put down to the new variants and a waning of immunity within the community.

South Australia is also urging mask-wearing in the same populated and high-risk settings as Queensland.

When visiting an aged care facility, you should check what specific COVID rules they have in place about visitation, particularly during this new wave.

If you are experiencing any cold or flu symptoms, you should stay home and avoid coming into contact with others as much as possible.

The latest figures

In the last week, New South Wales and South Australia reported almost double the amount of cases since the week prior, while Victoria reported a 63.1 percent increase.

Western Australia, Queensland, the ACT, Northen Territory and Tasmania also saw a rise in cases and number of people being hospitalised.

NSW’s chief health officer, Dr Kerry Chant, said that at this rate, she expects that this fourth wave would peak before Christmas.

“The wave is taking off with some trajectory, it will be quite a steep wave and hopefully the decline will be equally as steep,” she says.

“There is a sense that the wave may well peak before Christmas and we may be on the decline [by then].”

Despite these numbers, health officials have stood by the notion that this is the new COVID-normal way of life, with Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, confirming we will see cases rise and fall as the virus mutates and immunity fades in the community.

“We are treating it in a different way now because you’ve got to move beyond this,” Mr Andrews said earlier this month.

“We’re going to see COVID numbers go up and down. Whether it’s a wave or whether it’s a spike, I’ll leave that for others to determine.

“This era of COVID exceptionalism has to end, and it has. National Cabinet has made those decisions.”

The vast majority of aged care residents have had four doses or more of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 99 percent of aged care staff have had at least two doses.

About 42 percent of Australians have received a fourth vaccine dose, while almost 90 percent have had two or more doses.