Mask-wearing in the workplace also pushed
Employers across Australia are being urged to review the possibility of work from home for staff as the country sees a "significant increase" in cases of COVID-19.
The call came from Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Paul Kelly, who cited the advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.
"The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee has reiterated its advice on reinfection periods, testing and isolation, mask wearing, vaccine boosters and treatments, and called on employers to allow work from home if feasible," said the CMO.
"Employers should review their occupational health and safety risks and mitigations, and their business continuity plans," he added. "They should consider the feasibility of some employees working from home, wearing masks in the workplace and support employees to take leave when sick."
He made the remarks as he warned that the circulating BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the COVID-19 Omicron strain can "evade the immune protection from either previous infection or vaccine."
"Although three or four doses of vaccine remain very effective at providing protection against severe disease from BA.4 and BA.5, vaccination alone is not effective at stopping infection or transmission of the virus from person to person," said Kelly.
The CMO, citing Australia's previous experience with the BA.1 Omicron variant and recent other countries' experiences with the subvariants, warned that cases will continue to rise across the country over the coming month.
This would lead to increased pressure on hospitals, which are already seeing high levels of patients and absenteeism due to illness among staff, the CMO said.
"We cannot stop this wave of infections, but we can slow the spread and protect the vulnerable. We have done this before and we can do it again," said Kelly.
Read more: COVID-19: Can you refuse to return to work?
Meanwhile, the public is urged to get the jabs, especially those who are already eligible for their third or fourth dose of the vaccine. They are also called to observe physical distancing and wear masks outdoors while in crowded, indoor environments.
"Reducing the impact of COVID-19 is a shared responsibility for everyone. We can all play a role in protecting ourselves and our loved ones, our hospitals, and the wider health system, those most at risk, and society as a whole," the CMO said.
As of 2:30 p.m. on July 19, Australia reported 50,248 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, according to the Department of Health and Aged Care. There are over 347,000 estimated active cases, with 5,239 people current hospitalised.
