Coronavirus Victoria: Residents forced to isolate to get $300 payment

Victoria has announced a new $300 payment for anyone who has taken a test and needs to isolate but doesn’t have sick leave to fall back on.

A payment of $300 will be given to anybody who has taken a test and needs to isolate.

They will only get the payment if they are in work and do not have sick leave to fall back on.

Victorians wanting the payment will have to provide a pay slip or a statutory declaration.

If Victorians test positive, they are eligible for a further $1500 payment.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the hardship payment will play an important part of containing the spread of COVID-19.

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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced a $300 hardship payment for Victorians who are forced to self-isolate after being tested for COVID-19. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“It’ll be a relatively simple and easy process. It essentially requires you, for instance, to provide a pay slip. If you’re in a position where you’re not able to do that, then a statutory declaration to that effect, which will be done as simply and as easily as possible,” he said.

“Paperwork is always important but it’s about making sure that we get those payments out as fast as possible.

“What we’ve got at the moment is people who feel unwell, but don’t want to go and get tested quick enough because they’re fearful of not being able to go to work.”

Victoria has recorded five new COVID-19 related deaths and 403 new virus cases in the past 24 hours.

Yesterday Mr Andrews revealed an astonishing amount of Victorians weren’t self-isolating after developing coronavirus symptoms.

Of more than 3800 people who tested positive for the virus between July 7 and July 21, 90 per cent failed to self-isolate between the first onset of symptoms and getting tested.

It was also revealed more than one in two people who were waiting for test results were simply going about their business as if they didn’t have symptoms.

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The new payment will be available to anyone who has to isolate but doesn’t have any sick leave available. Picture: William West/AFP

The premier said yesterday he was “very unhappy” to have to report such a high rate of noncompliance with isolation.

Speaking during today’s press conference, Mr Andrews said the new $300 payment would “go a long way” to supporting families that may have been faced with the decision to isolate and miss out on essential income as a result.

“If you’re sick, get tested quick and then isolate until you get a test result. If you were then a positive case, then you would be eligible because those same insecure work circumstances apply, you would be eligible for a further $1500 dollar payment, and we would make sure that we made those payments are paid as quickly as possible,” he said.

“This is about trying to make being an earner doesn’t compromise or see you making bad choices for every other family across our state so this ensures that people are no worse off.”