AMA boss blasts ‘political’ changes to COVID-19 testing, shares fear about new rules

The boss of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has slammed the changes to testing and new definition of COVID-19 close contacts unveiled by the Prime Minister today.

Under the new rules, many people with COVID-19 won’t ever know they had it.

AMA President, Dr Omar Khorshid, says he “fears very much for the future” if COVID-19 plays out as he expects it to.

“Many people with Omicron who are fit and healthy and double vaccinated will actually have no symptoms at all and they wont know, they’ll just give it to other people, potentially vulnerable people,” he told Seb Costello, filling in for Tom Elliott.

“This does sort of feel a lot more like a political solution to a political problem rather than thinking about what’s in the best interest of the health of Australia.”

Dr Khorshid says it “remains to be seen” whether the health system will cope with the number of COVID-19 cases he expects will require hospitalisation.

“I hope I’m wrong and they’re right because otherwise we do certainly fear very much for the future,” he said.

The AMA boss criticised the federal government for not taking a more cautious approach for a few more weeks, until more is known about the severity and spread of COVID-19, and children have had the chance to be vaccinated.

Press PLAY below to hear the AMA president’s fear

Prime Minister unveils new COVID-19 close contact definition and testing changes