The Northern Territory’s leading health organisation has expressed concerns for vulnerable Aboriginal communities, in light of the decision to end COVID isolation.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced last week that the mandatory COVID isolation period will be scrapped in all states and territories.
Chief executive of Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT, John Paterson, has criticised the move, saying it is too early to allow COVID positive people to move freely in the community, especially for at-risk populations.
Paterson said the decision would especially impact vulnerable Aboriginal communities, who have comprised the majority of COVID cases in the Northern Territory, despite being just 30 per cent of the population.
The isolation changes announced by Albanese involve the removal of COVID-19 mandatory isolation requirements in all states and territories.
The decision was taken at Friday’s National Cabinet meeting with the change taking effect from 14 October.
This means people who test positive for COVID-19 are no longer required to self-isolate, with the exception of those working in high-risk settings.
To protect the vulnerable and those deemed to be at high-risk, the national cabinet agreed to continue the current financial support for casual workers and for workers in aged care, Aboriginal healthcare, disability care and hospitals.
Pandemic impact on breast cancer patients
Breast cancer organisations say the pandemic has caused a decline in women attending routine screenings.
The BreastScreen Australia program saw a drop of one hundred thousand patients screened in the 2020 to 2021 period, compared to the previous year.
Routine screenings are one of the most effective ways to receive a timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
CEO of National Breast Cancer Foundation, Cleola Anderiesz, said the impact of these delayed or cancelled screenings was not yet known.
Health Message
Face masks can stop or slow viruses spreading in the air when you talk, cough or sneeze.
Mask wearing is strongly recommended if you are indoors in a public space or outside in a crowded place, where it is not possible to physically distance.
People who are at risk of severe COVID illness are encouraged to wear a mask whenever in public.
Masks are still required in sensitive settings such as hospitals and care facilities, and if you are a close contact in an indoor space that is not your home.
(News compiled by the NEMBC Multilingual News Service, Victoria)
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