Access to PCR testing will be tightened as part of the Australian Labor government’s moves to transition the country away from “COVID exceptionalism.”
On Dec. 12, the federal government launched its $2.8 billion National COVID-19 Health Management Plan for 2023 developed based on advice from the country’s Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly.
The plan outlines how the country will manage the virus over the next 12 months.
“Over 2023, Australia will transition to managing COVID-19 in a similar way to other respiratory viruses, moving away from COVID exceptionalism and bespoke arrangements,” according to the plan (pdf).
“While we are learning more about the virus and its impacts on the community and health systems all the time, we are not yet at a ‘steady state’ where we can predict and manage it within normal systems. This means health response measures are still required.”…