The Omicron variant has, in a matter of weeks, transformed the
COVID-19 situation in the eastern states of Australia. In New South
Wales and Victoria cases routinely exceed 20,000 per day, a figure
that seemed inconceivable last year. Even though the variant is
generally regarded by experts to be milder than its Delta
predecessor, it nevertheless has posed enormous challenges for the
community, including for employees and employers alike.
The virus itself, and the isolation rules imposed by governments
to limit the spread of infection, have led to a significant
percentage of the workforce not being able to attend work,
undermining the health care system and creating significant supply
chain problems for food and some other household staples. In
response to this, some governments have truncated the isolation
requirements in health orders, especially for workers employed in
health care or other critical industries or functions, to remove
impediments to those employees
