Less than 24 hours after revealing the decisions of National Cabinet on 30 December 2021, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced the removal of the requirement for positive cases to have a Rapid Antigen Test result on Day 6 of their isolation.

"Following further consultation with the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Health Officers, leaders have agreed to remove the requirement for a Day 6 RAT for confirmed cases in isolation," the PM said in an online media statement this afternoon.

"If confirmed cases remain symptomatic, they should remain in isolation. Anyone with symptoms will continue to seek a PCR [nose and throat swab] test."

The added update comes as the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) weigh in on National Cabinet’s decision to “water down” the definition of a ‘close contact’ of someone diagnosed with COVID, warning it can only lead to a further exponential rise in Omicron cases across the country.

President of Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA), Dr Megan Belot says the changes are "too risky, too soon" and that they have contacted the federal health department to get answers on access for rural and remote communities to Rapid Antigen Tests.

“Given Omicron is surging across much of Australia, this is not the best time to completely water down the definition of a close contact” RDAA President, Dr Megan Belot, said.

“The new definition does not cover those who work together, at a time when many are returning to their regular workplace and are in close contact for more than 4 hours each day, or those who have been exposed to the virus in close public settings. All it will do is ensure those who may have been infected with COVID can continue to move freely in the community, and potentially further spread the virus."

“It is also not the time to be removing the need to return a negative test, before leaving isolation, for those who have been in quarantine due to having had COVID."

“It is particularly troubling given that some jurisdictions are also putting less emphasis on requiring people to check in when going to shops and other public venues – a simple requirement that could greatly assist health authorities in being able to educate people with messaging aligned with the new testing and isolation protocols.

“While evidence so far indicates that Omicron is a less severe COVID variant, the exponential growth in cases means we can expect many more people to require care either in community or in hospital, even if it’s not with the same extent of severe illness we saw with the Delta variant.

“An exponential rise in those admitted to hospital with Omicron will mean growing pressure on the health system, and the likelihood of having to furlough even more health professionals, even if for shorter periods.

“We can’t afford to throw caution to the wind at this point in time, but that’s exactly what National Cabinet is doing here.”

While RDAA supports the increased use of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) – given they will help to reduce demand on PCR testing – it has warned that more will need to be done to ensure rural and remote Australians can access free RAT kits instead of the PCR test (where eligible, such as for close contacts) or RAT kits at affordable prices (for those not eligible for free RAT kits).

“Yesterday’s announcement relies on people being able to access free RAT kits through state testing hubs if they are close contacts, and on being able to access follow-up PCR tests should their RAT indicate they have COVID” Dr Belot said.

“But this will really only work for those in the cities and large regional centres where state testing hubs are established," Dr Belot said.

“We have contacted the Federal Department of Health to get answers for rural and remote communities on this issue.

“We are concerned that market demand will mean rural people will have reduced access to RAT kits and will need to pay much higher prices for them, similar to what rural GPs experienced early in the pandemic with PPE items.

“Governments must ensure there is adequate access to RAT kits and PCR tests for all Australians, not just those in the cities.”

At this point, it seems that confirmed COVID-19 cases won't need a negative test to leave isolation if they're asymptomatic but close contacts will still need to have a test on day six of their isolation period. Any close contacts with symptoms should get a PCR test as soon as possible.

States are now working to clarify their responses to the National Cabinet decisions.

Stay tuned for further updates.