Fewer Australians to have Covid tests as national cabinet agrees to new definition of close contact

Scott Morrison calls for a reset' as a record 21,000 new cases are reported nationwide

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Fewer Australians will be told to get tested for Covid, with most states backing a much narrower definition of a close contact, as a record 21,000 new daily cases were reported nationwide.

The prime minister, Scott Morrison, cited some very practical problems" caused by the more infectious Omicron variant - including the huge strain on the PCR testing scheme that had been at the centre of Australia's response for two years.