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News & Media

COVID-19 - Further measures designed to restrict the spread of COVID-19 - UPDATED 13 May 2020

Wed 13 May 2020

COVID-19 Update - Thursday 30 April 2020 - 07:17am

There will be three key changes that will take effect across NSW next month:

  1. From Friday, 1 May up to two adults and their dependent children will be allowed to visit another household. As your local MP and as the Minister responsible for Family and Community Services, I know how important this will be to address isolation and improve the mental health of so many across our community. Compassion and care are so important at this time.
  2. We will see a return of face-to-face teaching from 11 May, and then will consider accelerating a full return to school as soon as possible.
  3. There have never been restrictions in NSW on what people can and cannot buy, however there may be increased retail activity, with some businesses choosing to re-open. It is important these shops maintain social distancing and hygiene requirements.

With respect to visiting friends and family, this announcement is in addition to existing guidelines of being able to leave home for ‘care or medical purposes or to obtain goods or services.

With respect to visitations, the two adults need not be related.

The last thing any of us want to see is a huge spike in cases.

We need anyone with even the mildest of symptoms anywhere in NSW to stay home and come forward for testing.

There is no limit on how faryou can travel within NSW so long as you respect the rules and the reason isconsistent with one of the four categories for leaving home.

It is important when visitinganother household that social distancing is maintained and extra hygieneprecautions are taken. When visiting, meeting in an outdoor environment such ashome garden, backyard or verandah will help reduce the risk.

If you are visiting those agedover 70 or those with underlying health conditions we are urging you to beextra vigilant with social distancing and hygiene measures.

It is also important toremember that you do not visit anyone if you or they are unwell, even if youhave mild symptoms like fatigue or a scratchy throat.

The two-person gathering limitstill applies to public places.

For the latest information onCOVID-19 please go to nsw.gov.au/covid-19.


COVID-19 Update - Wednesday 8 April 2020 - 5:37pm

NSW BUSINESSES TO BENEFIT FROM TODAY AS PAYROLL TAX MEASURES TAKE EFFECT

Hundreds of millions of dollars will remain in the hands of NSW businesses from today, giving them much needed cash flow and allowing them more scope to retain employees, with the NSW Government’s payroll tax assistance beginning to take effect.

The NSW Government has deferred payroll tax payments for all businesses for six months in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Businesses with payrolls of $10 million or less will also be eligible for a 25 per cent reduction in their annual liabilities for 2019-20, when they complete their annual reconciliation. These businesses will save around $450 million in payroll tax in 2019-20.

  • These measures will provide much needed cash flow and boost the liquidity of business at a critical time.
  • This is about ensuring businesses are not paying tax when they are most in need.
  • Instead of sending the Government a payment, the Government has deferred their tax to free up their funds at this critical time.
  • The latest monthly payroll tax payments for businesses are due on 7 April and these payments can be deferred.
  • The health, families and jobs of the people of the state are all top priorities.
  • This will leave money in the pockets of businesses which will help them deal with this once-in-a generation event. 
  • NSW businesses will be given every opportunity to make it through to the other side.

The NSW Government on 17 March announced the following measures:

  • 25 per cent reduction of annual payroll tax liabilities for businesses with payrolls of $10 million or less in 2019-20, meaning these businesses will save a quarter of their annual payroll tax bill for 2019-20. This measure will provide $450 million in tax savings.
  • Bringing forward the next round of payroll tax cuts by increasing the threshold to $1 million on 1 July 2020. This measure will provide $56 million in tax savings.

The NSW Government on 27 March announced the following measures:

  • The deferral of payroll tax payments for all businesses, including those with payrolls over $10 million, for six months (up to $4 billion deferred). Small businesses that already received a 25 per cent reduction in payroll tax for 2019-20 in the first announcement would now get an additional three-month deferral as well.

On 3 April, the NSW Government announced thousands of small businesses across NSW would receive grants of up to $10,000 under the $750 million Small Business Support Fund.

The NSW Government is doing all it can to help keep businesses afloat at this time.


COVID-19 Update - Sunday 5 April 2020 - 08:42am

If you require advice on what support is available to you in relation to COVID-19, please call: 
Service NSW on 13 77 88.

Gatherings

  • Do not gather with more than 2 people in public, except:
    • for members of the same household
    • where the gathering is essential for work or education.

Stay at Home

  • You must stay at home, unless you are going to:
  • Existing rules around 10 people at funerals and 5 people at weddings still apply.
  • Police will be enforcing all of the new measures, with tough penalties for those who do not act in the best interest of wider community health.

If you are leaving your home for exercise, you can either go by yourself, with the people you are isolating with or only one other person with whom you are not isolating. 

  • By way of example, if you are playing golf, you can go with your neighbour – but no one else and be sure to practice physical distancing.
  • If you are going fishing with your family, you can – but no one else.
  • If you are going for a bush walk, you can go with a friend – but no one else.
  • You can visit a partner or loved one on the grounds of care for others.

Remember, the most important power the police have is to exercise their discretion. By way of example, four men who were not isolating with each other were drinking in a park. The police asked the men to disperse and return to their place of residence. Three men agreed, the fourth did not. The fourth man was fined.

The NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller is personally reviewing all fines issued by police to ensure the application of the new measures are done in a fair and reasonable manner.

People over 70 and other vulnerable groups 

  • Persons aged 70 or over should stay at home and self-isolate as much as practical (this advice extends to people with chronic illnesses over 60, and indigenous persons over 50 who have existing health conditions or comorbidities).

Assistance available within the Community:
Small businesses . Sole-traders . Casual workers . Preschools. 

Below is additional information to help you stay up to date with the latest announcements. 

For additional information in relation to the numbers of cases and their location please visit: case statistics 
Additional information regarding assistance for preschools can be found at: assistance for preschools



COVID-19 Update - Tuesday 31 March 2020 - 06:00am

Gatherings

Do not gather with more than 2 people in public, except:

  • for members of the same household
  • where the gathering is essential for work or education.

Stay at Home

You must stay at home, unless you are going to:

  • work and education, where you can’t work remotely
  • shopping for food and essentials
  • for medical needs or the care of others
  • for exercise.
  • Existing rules around 10 people at funerals and 5 people at weddings still apply.
  • Police will be enforcing all of the new measures, with tough penalties for those who do not act in the best interest of wider community health.

People over 70 and other vulnerable groups

Persons aged 70 or over should stay at home and self-isolate as much as practical (this advice extends to people with chronic illnesses over 60, and indigenous persons over 50 who have existing health conditions or comorbidities).

  • Click here to be taken to the NSW Health website.


COVID-19 Update - Friday 27 March 2020 - 10:44am

OVERALL UPDATE

  • NSW workers and businesses are now able to access a range of advice and support on non-health related COVID-19 enquiries via the Service NSW contact centre 13 77 88
  • The hotline will be available 24/7 and Service NSW will recruit 1,000 workers.
  • 1,219 cases in NSW, 190 new cases since 8pm yesterday.
  • 7 deaths and 16 cases in ICU.

Supermarkets and pharmacies 24/7

  • Supermarkets and pharmacies are now allowed to operate 24/7.

Further details on hairdressers and barbers

  • Instruction on 30 minute limit in hairdressers and barbers has been lifted, however the 4sqm rule must apply.

Enforcement powers

  • Police now have the power to issue $1,000 to individuals and $5,000 to corporations not complying with ministerial directions about COVID-19.
  • Police Officers no longer require a warrant to arrest someone in breach of the public health orders.
  • Police also the option to charge anyone found failing to comply with a ministerial direction, which carries a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and/or an $11,000 fine for an individual and $55,000 for a corporation.

 Expansion of COVID-19 testing criteria

  • The current coronavirus testing criteria has been expanded to include testing people with fever or acute respiratory infection in:
  • all health workers
  • all aged/residential care workers
  • geographically localised areas where there is elevated risk of community transmission as defined by the local public health unit where no community transmission is occurring, high risk settings where there are two or more plausibly-linked cases, for example:
    • aged and residential care
    • rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
    • detention centres/correctional facilities
    • o boarding schools
    • military bases (including Navy ships) that have live-in accommodation.
  • Testing will be expanded to include hospitalised patients with fever and acute respiratory symptoms of unknown cause.

Temporary suspension of all semi-urgent elective surgery

  • All non-urgent elective surgery has been suspended.
  • The deadline for the suspension of semi urgent Category 2 and 3 elective surgeries at private hospitals has been extended to 11:59pm on 1 April 2020.


COVID-19 Update - 23 March 2020 - 12:17pm

Schools

  • Schools remain open. However, from tomorrow, for practical reasons, parents are encouraged to keep their children at home. The NSW Government is encouraging parents to keep their kids at home.

Restricted facilities

  • In line with health advice, from midday today, the following non-essential activities and businesses will be temporarily shut down:
    • Pubs, registered clubs
    • Gyms, indoor sporting venues
    • Cinemas, entertainment venues, casinos, and night clubs
    • Restaurants and cafes will be restricted to takeaway and/or home delivery
    • Religious gatherings, places of worship (excluding small weddings and funerals that comply with the 4m2 rule, which can proceed).
  • Click here to read the Premier’s Media Release
  • Click here to read the Prime Minister’s Media Statement

The NSW Government has announced an unprecedented $2.3 billion Health and Economic Stimulus Package to shield the State from the worse impacts of COVID-19 pandemic over the next six months.

The NSW Government encourages each and every one of you to undertake the necessary COVID-19 protections.

  • Practice social distancing with 1.5 metres and refraining from hugs and handshakes at this current time. 
  • Clean your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub to protect yourself from viruses.
  • If you become unwell, stay at home and contact your local GP or the Federal Government’s Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.


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