New South Wales (NSW) has reduced the quarantine time for healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19, cutting it from 14 days to seven in a bid to better cope with rising hospitalisation and ongoing mass testing. Around 2,000 health workers have been furloughed due to quarantine requirements around close contacts. NSW Health issued a statement on the evening of Dec. 27, saying that health workers deemed as “household” contacts could return to work if they tested negative on the sixth day of quarantine and complied with the risk assessment plan. The risk assessment plan requires daily COVID-19 rapid antigen testing, COVID-safe protocols in the workplace, and appropriate and effective use of personal protective equipment, including masks at all times while at work. Further, if healthcare workers were exposed to the virus in a “social setting” they can return after just two days of isolation if they have a negative test result. They …