How will a shorter Covid isolation period work, and will it affect case numbers?

If the change is made, how will it work and will infections increase?

People forced to isolate and miss work may be eligible for up to $750 a week under the pandemic leave disaster payment.

Perrottet has for some time requested the mandatory isolation period be reduced to five days, saying significant wage losses were occurring due to time spent in isolation.

The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, was open to the shift if it was supported by health advice.

But Perrottet and Andrews said the pandemic leave payment must remain as long as isolation rules were in place.

The Health Services Union secretary, Gerard Hayes, called for Covid isolation to be scrapped altogether, arguing the virus should now be treated similarly to other serious health issues.

But Australian Capital Territory chief minister, Andrew Barr, said his government was not in favour of changing the isolation period at this stage.

Federal government sources said no decision had been made.

The US isolation period for Covid was halved from 10 days to five in December, while the UK removed the legal requirement to isolate in February.

Both countries experienced a significant spike in infection rates, but University of Sydney epidemiologist Prof Alexandra Martiniuk said it is difficult to link the two.

Bennett said allowing people out of isolation earlier may not lead to a spike in infections provided positive cases were given more education about wearing masks, working from home and avoiding high-risk locations like hospitals or nursing homes in the week after they leave isolation.

Associate professor Paul Griffin, an infectious disease physician at the University of Queensland, agreed.

Former deputy chief medical officer and infectious diseases expert Dr Nick Coatsworth said Australia should be considering scrapping isolation altogether.