Page 706 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 5 April 2022
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In addition to these conditions, employers are required to adhere to their work health and safety obligations and undertake a range of actions if they seek to use the standing exemption to return workers to the workplace. Workers seeking to return to work during their quarantine period as a household contact, who are not covered under the standing exemption, are able to apply for a one-off exemption as an essential worker. Applications can be made directly to the ACT’s COVID-19 exemption team and must include supporting documentation from the employer detailing the essential need for the worker to return to work and what risk mitigations will be in place.
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, or AHPPC, recently published its statement on winter season preparedness, following a request by the national cabinet for advice on a number of matters, including advice on quarantine requirements for close contacts of positive cases and a transition away from quarantine requirements appropriate for each jurisdiction.
The statement notes that there has been a significant increase in COVID-19 cases observed in recent weeks due to a number of factors, including the emergence of the more transmissible Omicron BA.2 sub-lineage, relaxation of public health social measures, waning population level protection from vaccines and previous COVID-19 infection and a slowing in the update of booster and primary course vaccinations. The statement also notes the current demands for the hospital system in managing the multiple challenges of the existing COVID-19 case load, the usual care of acute medical and surgical activities, the backlog of elective surgery and the health issues associated with delayed health care.
The statement recommends the appropriate time for any changes to be made would be following the anticipated peak of the current BA.2 variant. Making changes too early, including to quarantine requirements, could result in increased transmission in the community at a time when cases are already increasing or are at their peak, resulting in potential further disruption to the health system.
The ACT government will now carefully consider the advice provided by the AHPPC with a view to applying this to the ACT context. The government has been, and will continue to be, focused on supporting the health and wellbeing of our community. The ACT continues to respond well to the challenges presented by COVID-19. However, the challenge is not yet over. While the ACT’s public health response is strong, it is anticipated that we will see further increases in cases as we head into winter. I ask all Canberrans to please continue with their incredible efforts over the past two years, adhere to the applicable public health directions and practise COVID-smart behaviours. I present the following paper:
Coronavirus (COVID-19)—ACT Government response—Update—Ministerial statement, 5 April 2022.
I move:
That the Assembly take note of the paper.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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