Page 1307 - Week 05 - Thursday, 18 June 2020
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As we ease COVID-19 restrictions in the ACT, making information available to business will continue to be a focus. We will continue to work with industry peak bodies to make the transitions as smooth as possible for businesses and to help support our economic recovery. We will also continue to add to the comprehensive information on the COVID-19 website and the information available through the business resource kit, and we welcome industry’s feedback on this.
Indeed, the COVID-19 website is currently in the process of being refreshed to ensure that information is up to date, is relevant and reflects feedback we have received to date. Finding the balance between the comprehensiveness of information and ease of navigation is an acknowledged challenge, especially in such a fast-moving environment.
There are still some restrictions on businesses, which take into consideration the level of risk present. For example, this may include the ways that people will come together at these venues, the number of people moving in and out of a business and how often, as well as the multiple surfaces people touch within a business, and the possibility of close contact between people. Those businesses previously restricted are required to have a specific COVID safety plan developed with regard to published guidance material endorsed by the Chief Health Officer.
But it is also important to recognise that all businesses have an obligation to consider the impact of COVID-19 and to make a plan. Work health and safety regulators across all jurisdictions except Victoria have endorsed a consistent statement of regulatory intent that sets out both how regulators will work in a COVID environment and what they expect from employers. The Chief Health Officer has consistently made the point that she needs to consider cumulative risk in circumstances where people gather and multiple social networks interact. COVID safety plans, other return to business plans and further control measures, such as visitor logs for patrons, will continue to be critical to ensure that we can ease restrictions while having confidence that our disease detectives can respond rapidly in the event of a case or cluster of new cases.
As I said, it is not solely a responsibility of business to operate in a COVID-safe way. All of us, as individuals, need to be responsible, keeping our physical distance, washing our hands often and well, staying home if we are sick and getting tested if we are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. For those who are currently working from home, they are also encouraged to continue to do so if that works for them and their employer. For those who need to use public transport, we are still asking that they consider when to take bus or light rail and avoid peak times where possible.
In my last update to the Assembly, I provided detail on the successful operation that managed the first repatriation flight into Canberra from India on 15 May. Subsequently, on 9 June 2020 the ACT received a repatriation flight from Kathmandu, Nepal, with 296 Australian citizens and permanent residents. The flight was facilitated by the Australian government to repatriate Australians stranded overseas during the COVID-19 pandemic. All 296 passengers received health screenings upon their arrival at Canberra airport. Nine passengers were tested after being identified with COVID-19 related symptoms. All nine returned negative results for COVID-19. Passengers were transported to and accommodated in serviced apartments and will
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