GPs and their staff will only have to isolate for five days, rather than two weeks, when a patient tests positive for COVID-19 under reforms being considered in Victoria.

They come amid reports that dozens of practices have been ordered to close after being deemed ‘tier-one’ exposure sites during the state’s third wave, which has seen daily cases rise to more than 1700.

Now, the state government says it may treat GP practices under the same rules as public hospitals, which allow low-risk staff to return to work after five days instead of 14 in many cases.

However the staff who return must also provide daily saliva tests, as well as a  clear PCR test on day nine and day 13.