Legal experts say businesses that let essential workers onto the job just after they have been exposed to COVID-19 may be opening themselves up to being sued.
Until recently, Australians who lived with people infected with COVID-19, or who spent more than four hours in a home with somebody infected, had to isolate for seven days.
But now, under changes agreed to by national cabinet, a range of essential workers are exempt from this requirement.
The exposed essential workers must take a rapid test every second day until day six after their exposure, monitor for symptoms and isolate if they develop them, and only leave home for work purposes.
The list of jobs defined by national cabinet as essential is extensive, although not all states have adopted this full list of exempt occupations in their official health advice.
From this week in Victoria, the accepted exempt workers include those in emergency services, education, critical utilities, custodial facilities, transport, freight and food production.
That has been "a big relief" for the chief executive of one of the state's biggest food logistics companies, Cold Xpress.
John Di Losa's company employs 200 drivers who deliver refrigerated food to major supermarkets and fast-food companies. Its logistics were thrown into disarray as staff had to isolate during the summer Omicron surge.
"It's been very, very challenging," Mr Di Losa said.
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