COVID 19 UPDATE

IMPORTANT CORONAVIRUS UPDATE?

Here’s a summary of what was announced last night by the Prime Minister, following the National Cabinet meeting and see the Stimulus update below:

CLOSURES

The following will be closed from noon today (Monday, 23 March):

???Registered and licensed pubs and clubs (not the accommodation areas);?

???licensed premises in hotels and pubs; entertainment venues and cinemas, casinos and nightclubs; restaurants and cafes are restricted to takeaway only;

???indoor sporting venues and gyms;?

???religious gatherings, places of worship (funerals and gatherings of that nature will have to follow the strict 4 square metre rule indoors)

???Off-licensed places such as bottle shops are exempt from above restrictions.

???All other businesses can remain open e.g. hairdressers, beauticians, shopping centres.

TRAVEL

???Recommend against all non-essential travel in Australia. Many states are closing their borders to non-residents of that state, unless it is for essential travel reasons e.g. for work, compassionate reasons and essential deliveries.?

???Some are putting in place quarantine measures from Tuesday where you will have to remain at the border for 14 days to self-isolate. (e.g. WA, SA.)

???It is recommended to cancel school holiday trips interstate.

SCHOOLS

???Schools will officially remain open for those who want/need to send their children.

???But, parents are allowed to keep their kids at home, where they choose to.

???Schools will also seek to provide distance learning but it will take some time.

???Schools will be open after the school holidays, subject to ongoing health advice.

HOLIDAYS

???No trips interstate trips.

COLES/WOOLLIES:

???They have increased resources for home care packages like meals on wheels.

???Deliveries are now able to happen 24 hours/day.

???Now marked areas that indicate how far away you should stand from the next person to enforce 4 metres square people.

STIMULUS EXPANDED:

The Prime Minister has announced significant expansions to the stimulus.?

??Increasing the JobSeeker payment by $550 a fortnight through the Coronavirus Supplement

??An additional $750 for those not eligible for the supplement on income support

??Waiving income and asset tests and waiting times for those who lose their jobs and apply for JobSeeker payment?

??Expanding small business support to up to $100,000 to support paying wages

??Enabling $10,000 early release of superannuation funds for people in financial distress

??Reducing the deeming rate for pensioners

??Reducing compulsory superannuation draw down rates?

??Enabling $40 billion in loans to help small business stay afloat

And more.

Details here?

Please share this post to help get accurate information out to those who need to have it.

Take care and stay safe everyone. Until the next update.....Michael.

Follow Michael on Twitter @MrMichaelSharpe

Michael Sharpe is the National Director for Industry at the?Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, a Director of the?Sharpe Family Office?and Founder of the?Nuclear Skills Forum.