HomeCovid NewsNSW COVID-19 update: Restrictions extended and increased financial support available

NSW COVID-19 update: Restrictions extended and increased financial support available

NSW COVID-19 update: Restrictions extended and increased financial support available

What you need to know

  • Tighter restrictions in place for 8 Sydney LGAs including no travel beyond 5km from home
  • Tighter masks rules for the 8 LGSs - People unable to wear a mask need to carry proof
  • Eligibility criteria for JobSaver and individual financial support has changed
With the extension of the lockdown for Greater Sydney, tighter restrictions have been announced for people living in the eight Sydney local government areas (LGAs) of Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, Georges River, Liverpool, Campbelltown, Cumberland, Parramatta and Blacktown.

From 12.01am 30 July, residents must not travel more than 5km from their home and must wear face masks while outside their homes.

Workforce Implications

Authorised workers including those providing disability supports are able to leave their LGA to work.

However, NSW Health advises surveillance testing continues to apply for those living in Fairfield and working outside their LGA (until 31 July 2021). New advice has been issued for workers who live in the Canterbury/Bankstown LGA and work outside of their LGA. From 31 July these workers will also be required to undertake surveillance testing every 72 hours in order to work in residential facilities or provide in-home services.

Anyone from Greater Sydney who is working in residential disability services or providing in-home services more than 50km outside of Greater Sydney still needs to undergo surveillance testing every seven days.

Workers are required to wear masks. Where this is not possible for medical reasons, providers should consider COVID-19 testing every three days for these staff.

Residential disability services

In addition to the recent advice that day program group activities should be suspended, NSW Health has issued new advice for residential disability services.

Visitors
  • Restrictions on non-essential visitors in the Greater Sydney region continue
  • Facilities located in Orange, Blayney and Cabonne must only allow one visitor per day to provide essential caring functions
  • Advice remains the same for facilities in the rest of NSW

 

Residents

New advice has been issued for residents (and other people with disability) who are unable to wear face masks due to their disability or other medical condition. Where this is the case, the person must now carry proof, which could include a medical certificate, a letter signed by a registered health practitioner or a registered NDIS provider, or a statutory declaration.

 

Financial Support

In the face of increased restrictions, changes have also been made to the financial supports available to businesses and not for profits impacted by the NSW lockdown.

JobSaver payments will now be available to businesses with an annual turnover of between $75,000 and $250 million, which have experienced a revenue decline of 30 per cent or more. Employing businesses that maintain their employee head count will also be able to receive up to $100,000 per week based on fourty per cent of their weekly NSW payroll.

The financial support for individuals has also changed. NSW residents will receive an additional $150 a week if they have lost more than 20 hours of work, or an extra $75 if they have lost fewer than 20 hours.

NSW COVID-19 disaster payments will increase to $750 per week if a worker loses 20 hours or more of work. Those that lose between eight and 20 hours, will receive a payment of $450 per week. People receiving certain welfare payments will also be able to claim COVID-19 disaster payments for the first time, receiving $200 a week on top of their existing benefits if they have lost more than eight hours of work.

The new payment rate will commence 2 August and be automatically updated for those in the Services Australia system. It will also be available from day one of any future lockdown. There will be no liquid assets test applied to eligibility for these payments and individuals do not need to use all their annual leave.


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