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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 732 asked in the Legislative Council on 30 August 2022 by Hon Dr Brian Walker

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

CORONAVIRUS — ISOLATION PERIOD

732. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Health:

I refer the minister to reports in The West Australian over the weekend suggesting that three million working days were lost across Australia in the first six months of this year due to COVID isolation requirements.

(1) Are figures available for the number of isolation days lost across the workforce in Western Australia; and, if so, will the minister please provide them for the year to date?

(2) Has the government received any advice that would agree with the views expressed by Dr Nick Coatsworth, the former Chief Medical Officer, who argues that seven days of isolation should now be considered excessive?

(3) Does the government have any plans to review isolation times in WA, either on its own or in conjunction with other states and territories?

Hon SUE ELLERY replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.

(1)–(3) COVID-19 isolation periods have formed an important part of keeping Western Australians safe from COVID-19. The Minister for Health regularly takes advice from the state's Chief Health Officer regarding elements of the state government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Decisions regarding COVID-19 isolation periods are a matter for national cabinet.