The borders have now fully opened up and we are now in a new stage of dealing with COVID –unfortunately just in time for the highly contagious Omicron variant to arrive and increase infection rates.
Close and Casual Contact –State by State
Unhelpfully each state government has introduced their own state specific responses. The timing and location for your event will be very important due to the changing requirements of each state.
Here is a state-by-state quick reference guide to assist you in understanding the requirements for your next event. *Please note due to the rapidly changing nature of such responses the guide may be superseded by new rules so check the relevant state public health website for clarification.
Casual Contact
State | Do you need to self isolate? | Do you need a COVID-19 test? | When can I leave self-isolation? |
|---|---|---|---|
NSW | Yes - immediately | Yes – the first test must occur as soon as possible; and on day 6 after your last contact with the COVID-19 positive person. If your first test is more than 4 days after your exposure to the person with COVID-19 and your result is negative, you do not need the second test. | Upon receiving the first negative test result. |
VIC (social, workplace and education contacts) | Yes - immediately | Yes – within 24 hours. | Upon receiving the first negative test result. |
SA (note there are no quarantine or testing requirements for a low risk casual contact) | Yes - immediately | Yes – the first test must occur as soon as possible, then on day 6 and again on day 13 after exposure. | Upon receiving the first negative test result. |
QLD (note there are no quarantine or testing requirements for a low risk casual contact) | Yes - immediately | Yes – immediately | Upon receiving the first negative test result. |
TAS | No. | Yes – an initial test must be done as soon as you become aware that you are a casual contact. You will need a second test on day 6 only if your initial test occurred less than 5 days after your exposure. | Upon receipt of negative test results. You do not need to quarantine while waiting for your second test result (if taken). |
ACT | Yes. Note that you will also need to complete the ACT Contact Declaration Form. | Yes – an initial test must be done as soon as you become aware that you are a casual contact. You will need a second test on day 6 only if your initial test occurred less than 5 days after your exposure. | Upon receipt of negative test results. You do not need to quarantine while waiting for your second test result (if taken). |
WA – there are no set guidelines for casual and close contacts in WA, individuals must follow the protocols listed for each individual exposure site. | |||
NT (casual contacts and locations of concern) | Yes – immediately. You must also call the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 484 and identify yourself as a casual contact. Low risk contacts must monitor symptoms for 14 days only quarantine and isolate if COVID-19 symptoms develop. | Yes – immediately. | Upon receipt of negative test results. |
Close Contact
State | Do you need to self-isolate? | Do you need a COVID-19 test? | When can I leave self-isolation? |
|---|---|---|---|
NSW | Yes – immediately. | Yes – immediately, again on day 6 and finally again on day 12 after exposure. | At the end of 7 days and upon receipt of negative test results. For the following 7 days you must work from home if possible and not attend high risk settings (even if it is your place of work). |
VIC (household and other close contacts) | Yes – you must immediately quarantine at home. | Yes – Household contact (If fully vaccinated): as soon as possible then another test on day 6 of quarantine Household contact (If not vaccinated): as soon as possible, then another test on day 13 of quarantine Other close contact (If fully vaccinated): as soon as possible then another test on day 6 of quarantine Other close contact (If not vaccinated): as soon as possible then another test on day 13 of quarantine | At the end of the specified period: Household contact (If fully vaccinated): 7 days from the date the diagnosed person received a positive test result Household contact (If not vaccinated): 14 days from the date the diagnosed person tested positive Other close contact (If fully vaccinated): 7 days from when you were in contact with the person who tested positive Other close contact (If not vaccinated): 14 days from the date when you were in contact with the person who tested positive and on receipt of negative test result. |
SA | Yes – immediately. | Yes – as soon as possible, and: on day 6 for vaccinated individuals on day 13 for unvaccinated individuals | At the end of the required period: 7 days from exposure for vaccinated individuals 14 days from exposure for unvaccinated individuals and on receipt of negative test result. |
TAS | Yes – you must quarantine immediately. | Yes – If you are vaccinated you must test on day 5 or 6. if you are unvaccinated you must receive a test immediately at the start of quarantine and again on day 12 – 13. | At the end of the required period: 7 days for vaccinated people (but must wear a mask when outside the home and are not permitted to visit high-risk settings or vulnerable people for 14 days from exposure) 14 days for unvaccinated people and on receipt of a negative test result. |
ACT | Yes – you must quarantine immediately. You must also complete the ACT Contact Declaration Form | Yes – immediately. If you are fully vaccinated, a second test must be taken on or after day 6. Another test must be taken on day 12-13 after exposure even if you have left quarantine If you are unvaccinated, a second test must be taken on or after day 6. Another test must be taken on day 12-13 after exposure | At the end of the required period: 7 days if you are fully vaccinated (but must wear a mask when outside the home, avoid mass gatherings and are not permitted to visit high-risk settings or vulnerable people for 14 days from exposure) 14 days if you are unvaccinated and on receipt of a negative test result. |
WA – there are no set guidelines for casual and close contacts in WA, individuals must follow the protocols listed for each individual exposure site. | |||
NT | Yes – immediately self-quarantine. You must also call the COVID-19 Hotline and identify yourself as a close contact. | Yes – immediately. | At the end of the required period: 7 days if you are fully vaccinated 14 days if you are unvaccinated and on receipt of a negative test result. |
Is Personal/Sick Leave payable when an employee is required to self-isolate because of public health requirements?
A close contact required to self-isolate etc but who is NOT sick or presenting COVID symptoms technically is NOT entitled to access Personal/Sick Leave because they won’t meet the usual notification and evidentiary requirements of incapacity.
But an employee who is sick or presenting COVID symptoms AND is also required to self-isolate etc is entitled to access Personal/Sick Leave just like they would for any other incapacity subject to meeting the usual notification and evidentiary requirements.
So, employers have to make a ‘call’. Some employers have said they will pay employees Personal Leave regardless - but then some employees complain that they have had to use their Personal Leave when not sick –and don’t want to use their Annual leave or LSL either. In such circumstances, (if you can find alternative duties) the best means is to simply provide alternative duties or training or professional developments activities from home (eg training modules or even creating training materials for others to use).
BUT if you can’t find alternative duties you have to either pay your employees as normal, ask them to access their Annual Leave’ LSL or have ‘the fight’ regarding the non-payment of Personal/Sick Leave.
Other examples that businesses have successfully implemented include:
nominate ‘risky travel zones’ and proactively consult with your employees clearly advising ‘up front’ that the employer won’t provide paid Personal/Sick Leave if employees are required to isolate by Government mandate after travelling to a ‘risky travel zone’ and there are no alternative duties that they can perform.;
provide additional Pandemic Leave for employees who are vaccinated; and
make applications for Annual Leave to ‘risky travel zones’ conditional upon specific ‘return testing’ requirements for the individual eg period of isolation and testing PLUS any other reasonable control measures eg temperature testing, mask wearing etc
Again, the test of what is ‘reasonable’ will depend on your particular workplace. A risk assessment and proper consultation will provide the best guidance of the way forward.
Sign up for our 'Tips & Trends' Articles
You will get short, relevant articles on topical areas with actionable steps and real commentary
We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.