Household and close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case without symptoms are no longer required to isolate. However, household and close contacts must follow the NSW Health Household and Close Contact Guidelines for 7 days from the last time someone in their household tested positive for COVID-19, or as otherwise directed by NSW Health if you’re a close contact.
Please read the NSW Health Household and Close Contact Guidelines for full details, including guidelines on arrangements for work and attendance in the workplace.
Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), employers are responsible for providing a safe work environment and minimising the risk of workplace COVID-19 transmission so far as is reasonably practicable.
Households are one of the highest risk settings for spreading COVID-19. Employers should therefore implement measures to manage the risk of workplace transmission of COVID-19 from household and close contacts, such as physical distancing, mask wearing, good hygiene, and regular cleaning.
Employers may also consider the following practicable control measures:
- Household and close contacts should be allowed to work from home where practicable.
- Employers should undertake a risk assessment before approving a household or close contact returning to work if they cannot work from home.
- Employers may ask household and close contacts to do a rapid antigen test before they attend work, even if they don’t have symptoms.
- Employers may direct all people in the workplace to wear masks except while eating or drinking or where a mask could create a safety issue.
- Employers may direct household and close contacts not to use shared facilities such as tea rooms at the same time as other people.
- Household and close contacts might be allocated work that involves minimal interaction with other people and/or in well-ventilated areas or outdoors, where possible.
- Household and close contacts may be encouraged to maintain physical distance from others at all times.
- Employers should strongly encourage or, if lawful and reasonable, direct employees to receive a booster vaccination against COVID-19.
- Ensure COVID safe plans reflecting these, and other measures are signed off by or on behalf of the employer.
For more information please refer to: