31 December 2021

Coronavirus (COVID-19): New approaches to testing and isolation for close contacts and COVID cases

A national agreement has been reached on new approaches to testing and isolation for close contacts and COVID cases. COVID-19 infections identified by rapid antigen testing must be notified to the NDIS Commission.

Key points

• A close contact is now defined, except in exceptional circumstances, as those who usually live with or who have stayed in the same household for more than four hours as a person infected with COVID-19 during their infectious period.
• A close contact will need to isolate for seven days after last exposure to person infected with COVID-19 regardless of their vaccination status, and take a rapid antigen test on day six. (South Australia will continue with a ten day quarantine period for cases and close contacts).
• Providers should review their arrangements for furloughing staff who have been close contacts to enable staff to return to usual shifts where this is possible under the new arrangements.
• The requirement of registered providers to notify the NDIS Commission of positive COVID-19 infections includes infections identified through any test – either a PCR or rapid antigen test.

• All providers are reminded of their obligations regarding continuity of critical supports, and to review outbreak management and business continuity plans.

Updated close contact definition and isolation requirements

State and territory governments have agreed to new approaches to testing and isolation for close contacts and COVID cases.

Close contact definition
A close contact is now defined, except in exceptional circumstances, as those who usually live with or who have stayed in the same household for more than four hours as a case during their infectious period.

Isolation requirements
A close contact will need to isolate for seven days after last exposure to a case regardless of vaccination status, and take a rapid antigen test on day six. (South Australia will continue with a ten day quarantine period for cases and close contacts).

The new arrangements came into effect from 12.01am on 31 December 2021 in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.

Tasmania will commence arrangements from 1 January 2022.

Western Australia and the Northern Territory will advise on the start date for new arrangements. Providers in these states should monitor local information for these announcements.

More information is available on the Department of Health website:

• Prime Minister’s statement
• AHPPC statement on testing, tracing, isolating and quarantining in high levels of COVID-19 community transmission.

Notification of changes or events

Registered providers must notify the NDIS Commission of any change or event that significantly affects your ability to comply with any of your conditions of registration, including compliance with the NDIS Practice Standards. You must use the COVID-19 notification of events form to report these changes.

Registered providers are required to notify the NDIS Commission of positive COVID-19 infections of participants and workers. Positive infections can be identified through PCR or rapid antigen tests.

Your requirements to notify the NDIS Commission of reportable incidents under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Incident Management and Reportable Incidents) Rules 2018 are separate from the COVID-19 notification of changes or events and remain unchanged.  

Continuity of support obligations and outbreak preparedness

All providers are reminded of their obligations regarding continuity of critical supports, and to review outbreak management and business continuity plans.

Refer to our provider alert of 6 August 2021.

NDIS Commission COVID-19 information and resources

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) information webpage on the NDIS Commission website contains links to updates, training, alerts and other resources.

We also have a COVID-19 webpage containing information for people with disability, and a webpage of frequently asked questions about COVID-19 for all stakeholders.