NSW Covid restrictions: What is essential work during lockdown?

What counts as essential work? And who is an essential worker? NSW Covid rules have left residents and retailers confused.

Angira Bharadwaj

@angirab_

less than 2 min read

July 1, 2021 - 1:16PM

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NSW

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Unclear guidelines over what professions count as “essential workers” have left NSW residents confused.

It comes as calls to better define “essential goods” have also escalated after small retailers asked for clarity on their ability to operate.

Covid-19 guidelines from NSW Health do not provide a clear list of who is an essential worker but describe it as any work or study that cannot be done from home.

“Unless we have to work outside the home or get educated outside the home … if you must work outside the home, you are able to do that,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian provides a COVID update on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said defining essential good was “impossible” and asked retailers to apply “common sense” when deciding to operate or not.

“Practically it is impossible to define essential retail, because clearly if you’ve just relocated house and you have nothing with you, getting some bath towels and products are essential,” Dr Chant said.

“We’re saying (only) go out for essential goods.”

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant provides a COVID update from the NSW Ministry of Health in St Leonards. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

The government has instead released a list of 15 places that cannot open, including nightclubs, strip clubs, cinemas and hairdressers.

Australian Retailers Association chief executive Paul Zahra has called for a nationally consistent approach in defining which employers can open.

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“Currently, lockdowns mean different things to different states. If you’re a fashion retailer in Sydney you’re still allowed to open under the current stay-at-home orders, however the current health instructions are to shop for ‘essentials’ only, leaving many retailers open with no customers,” Mr Zahra said.