National Cabinet has agreed to shorten COVID-19 isolation requirements by two days for most workers. 

After a meeting of state and federal authorities, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced changes that mean people who test positive for COVID-19 will only be required to isolate for five days except in vulnerable settings.

Workers in disability, aged care and other high-risk settings, as well as people still displaying symptoms, will still be required to keep to the seven-day isolation period when changes come into effect on September 9. 

“We want people to stay home. We want people to act responsibly,” Mr Albanese said.

Ministers also agreed to reduce support payments for people required to isolate, and drop the requirement to wear masks on domestic flights.

The $750 pandemic leave payment is set to end on September 30, but the Prime Minister says there is a possibility it will be extended. 

“We had a discussion about people looking after each other, people looking after their own health and being responsible for that ... there aren't mandated requirements for the flu or a range of other illnesses,” the PM said after the meeting of federal, state and territory leaders.

“What we want to do is to make sure that government responds to the changed circumstances, the COVID likely is going to be around for a considerable period of time.”

The Health Services Union has been calling for mandatory isolation to be scrapped for people who did not have symptoms, as this has kept many nurses and health workers off work, increasing systemic strain. 

But the Australian Medical Association (AMA) says reduced isolation could in fact worsen workforce shortages

“We know there is significant potential for transmission, and it may be that the changes they have made will make work attendance worse, we will have to see from here,” AMA president Professor Steve Robson said.

“Almost a third of people on day six and seven after they contract COVID are still potentially infectious.

“Allowing people who perhaps have no symptoms but could still infect others into the workplace may not achieve what the government is hoping to achieve.”

The AMA has called for the release of health advice underpinning the National Cabinet decision on COVID isolation.

Some reports allege the changes were made “without any written advice and no modelling”.