While other leaders extended their sympathy to Albanese on social media after news of his positive test emerged after 6pm on Thursday,several Labor sources noted the situation would have been worse if the diagnosis came in the week before the May 21 election.

The positive COVID result means Albanese will isolate while Morrison can continue touring the country trying to win crucial votes in what is shaping as a tight election.

“Following a routine PCR test this afternoon ahead of interstate travel to Western Australia,I have returned a positive result for COVID this evening,” Albanese said in a statement on Thursday night.

“I have been testing regularly as part of my election campaign duties. I will be isolating at home in Sydney for the next seven days and will continue to follow health guidelines and advice.”

Albanese said he would continue campaigning from home while he recovers from the virus.

“I am grateful to know that I will have access to the world’s best health care if I need it,because of Medicare,” he said.

“I am feeling fine so far – and thank everyone for their well wishes.”

The Labor leader has been taking PCR tests regularly,but had not tested positive on a RAT. A spokesman confirmed he is currently asymptomatic.

Unlike Morrison,Albanese has not had COVID before. Labor had prepared for it to happen during the campaign and the leadership team will meet on Thursday night to decide which contingency plan they will put in place from Friday.

Albanese campaigned in the marginal NSW South Coast seat of Gilmore on Thursday,where first-term Labor MP Fiona Phillips is facing a challenge from former NSW state minister Andrew Constance.

He visited the Manildra ethanol distillery in Nowra where he spruiked Labor’s focus on clean energy to drive jobs,before stopping by a local retirement village to meet and greet residents.

Uniting NSW.ACT said it had been made aware of Albanese’s positive test after he visited its Symons House.

“Uniting ensures 100 per cent of our staff and contractors are fully vaccinated against COVID-19,” Uniting head of village services Keith Morgan said. “Staff and residents at Uniting’s Symons House in Nowra will take precautions which include testing,cleaning and monitoring for symptoms.”

Labor climate spokesman Chris Bowen,who also had COVID,sent a message of sympathy.

“As someone a few days ahead of you on the COVID journey,my advice is to rest up,” he said on social media. Other MPs wished Albanese well.

There was no sympathy,however,from the Liberal Party. “Don’t risk Australia’s border security with flip-flopping Albanese and Labor,” the LNP Queensland official Twitter account said about an hour after news of the positive test was revealed.

A week before the campaign was called,The Sun-Herald andThe Sunday Agespoke to seven senior Labor MPs about what contingencies were in place to try to manage the situation if the leader fell ill.

None would speak on the record as they were not authorised to do so,but the MPs confirmed the campaign had war-gamed what to do if Mr Albanese caught COVID.

Under the plans,senior shadow ministers including Richard Marles,Penny Wong,Jim Chalmers and Mark Butler would play a more prominent role if Albanese was sidelined,taking on the job of being the leading spokesperson for the party on a particular day,depending on what the issue might be.

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