COVID-19: NSW workers forced into isolation can now get $1500 pandemic leave
NSW workers forced to isolate for COVID-19 can now access the federal government’s $1500 pandemic payment after it was decided there was no need for a state of emergency declaration here to access the cash. It comes as NSW recorded its first coronavirus death in months.
NSW
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NSW workers forced into coronavirus isolation will be able to apply for a $1500 pandemic leave payment after the Prime Minister agreed that NSW would not need to declare a state of emergency to access the scheme.
The announcement came as the state recorded the first COVID death in more than a month, a man in his 70s who caught the virus as part of the CBD cluster.
Two new coronavirus cases were reported on Sunday, including one local case who may have caught the disease at Liverpool hospital.
The taxi driver tested positive after working for eight days while potentially infectious.
“People who may have taken taxis in Western and South Western Sydney must be alert for symptoms,” NSW Health’s Jeremy McAnulty said.
The case also attended a number of locations in Western and South Western Sydney, as well the NSW south coast.
“Pleasingly, the person had the COVIDSafe App, which is being used to help identify contacts,” Dr McAnulty said.
A spate of venues have been linked with the case, and anyone who visited an identified venue for at least an hour at the specified times has been directed to self-isolate for 14 days.
Meanwhile, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Scott Morrison has agreed to give NSW access to a pandemic leave payment without needing to declare a state of emergency.
Anyone directed to self-isolate for two weeks will be eligible for a one-off $1,500 payment if they don’t have access to leave entitlements.
“So if you‘re someone who has a job, and you don’t have any leave left, you will be paid $1500 for that fortnight you have to isolate,” she said.
“We didn‘t want to declare a state of emergency in NSW, which is what the criteria was to get the pandemic leave.
“So I wrote to the Prime Minister saying ‘please can you support us in that way?’ and he very gladly accepted,” she said.
A spate of locations have been linked with the latest positive cases, with anyone who attended the venues for at least one hour at the times indicated now forced to isolate for 14 days.
The venues are:
Campbelltown Golf Club, Glen Alpine – 16 September, 2pm-4.30pm
Milton Ulladulla Ex Servos Club – 12 September, 2pm-6.15pm
Carlo’s Italian Restaurante Bar & Seafood, Ulladulla – 12 September, 8pm-9.30pm
Bannisters Pavilion Rooftop Bar & Grill, Mollymook – 13 September, 12.30pm-2.15pm
Mama Wok, MacArthur Square Campbelltown 9 September 1:30pm-2:30pm
People forced to isolate will now be able to seek a pandemic leave payment of $1500 if they don’t have paid leave entitlements.
Anyone directed to isolate without leave has been urged to apply for the payment.
PALASZCZUK HITS BACK ON FILM FURY
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she will not “cop” any negativity about the Gold Coast film industry, after border exemptions granted to Hollywood star Tom Hanks sparked a fierce backlash last week.
Her comments came as the state recorded two new cases of COVID-19 overnight.
One case is a returned overseas traveller in hotel quarantine, while the other is a known contact from the Corrective Services cluster who is also in quarantine.
Ms Palaszczuk defended the local film industry ramping up, saying while other parts of the world were experiencing additional waves of coronavirus, Queensland was in a stronger health and economic position.
“We’re able to support the industry and get people back into work. There are a whole lot of jobs that rely on that industry,” she told reporters on Sunday.
She said that included food deliveries, carpenters, set designers, make-up artists and other jobs.
Ms Palaszczuk noted when Melbourne was having its second wave, Prime Minister Scott Morrison was on the Gold Coast “talking about how good the film industry is”.
“I’m not going to cop this negativity on one hand about the industry, which is supporting local Gold Coast jobs,” she said.
Ms Palaszczuk also confirmed Hanks was quarantining in a hotel, not a house, and said other people had been flown into NSW from Los Angeles but no one was talking about that.
VICTORIA HITS LOWEST NEW CASES IN THREE MONTHS
Victoria has recorded 14 new coronavirus cases — its lowest tally for three months — as five more people died from the virus.
The last time the state recorded fewer cases was on June 22, when 11 new cases were diagnosed.
It brings the total number of cases in Victoria to 20,044, and brings its 14-day average to 36.2.
That figure, if maintained, could trigger the long-awaited winding back of lockdown measures in Melbourne by next week.
RELATED: Live blog of Victorian virus battle
Metropolitan Melbourne must reach an average daily case rate of between 30 and 50 cases over the preceding fortnight to trigger an easing of restrictions from September 28.
Sydney’s COVID cleaning squad hit ’phenomenal’ milestone
The state’s army of transport COVID cleaners has marched past one million extra cleaning hours since the pandemic took hold.
More than 1400 extra cleaners have also been employed since March, providing “a lifeline for those who found themselves out of work due to the virus”, NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance said.
“There’s nothing more important than keeping our communities safe on our transport network,” Mr Constance said, adding: “We clean buses and trains three to four times a day”.
“Reaching the amazing milestone of one million extra cleaning hours not only shows
our commitment to slowing the spread of the virus, but our enhanced cleaning regime
has provided a lifeline for those who found themselves out of work due to the virus.
“Many of our new contract cleaners for Sydney Trains have come from different
industries, including hospitality, teaching and engineering, and are not only keeping
the network COVID-safe but are also able to continue working in their local
communities and I thank them for all of their hard work.”
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Musical theatre performer Andrew Kroenert was meant to be in rehearsals for the stage production of Frozen until COVID-19 struck.
Instead he now cleans trains, wiping down 3500 touch points each day and using 1.5 litres of disinfectant.
“Because my CV is mostly performing, it’s so hard to get a job doing anything else, so when this popped up I applied for it,’ Mr Kroenert, 36, said.
“The thing that’s really shocked me is the huge sense of personal satisfaction that I get from doing the job.
“We’re often thanked by passengers on the train for doing the job that we do and I think just knowing that we’re helping people travel safely, it’s actually a huge thing that I’ve really enjoyed.”
Fellow cleaner Rahil Nerkar had just completed his engineering masters degree when COVID put the brakes on finding work in his field.
Mr Nerkar said the job had allowed him to pay his bills while also “giving back to society”, especially older commuters.
“You’re doing something good for them because they’re one of those communities just completely vulnerable to the virus,” he said.
Transport for NSW’s COVID Task Force safety lead Nick Mountford said “hitting the million hours has been an absolutely phenomenal achievement”.
“I take my hat off to the cleaning crews who have achieved this — they’ve done a fabulous job to keep our transport network COVID-safe,” he said.
NSW Acting Deputy Premier and Regional Transport Minister Paul Toole said the government’s $250 million Cleaning Stimulus has also seen cleaning ramped up in regional areas.
“We’re seeing the largest cleaning rollout that we’ve ever seen here in the state of NSW,” Mr Toole said.
“It’s critical that our customers feel safe and that’s why we’ve increased our cleaning
regime including rolling out dedicated cleaners on busy bus routes in Tweed Heads
and vehicle sanitisation stations for point to point transport providers in Albury, Dubbo, Newcastle, Tweed Heads, Tamworth and the Central Coast.
“From bushfires, to floods, to COVID-19, this has been a very tough time for the people in regional NSW and we thank everyone who has been on the frontline to help keep our communities safe and connected.”