Month: May 2020

Beauty and nail salon operators can begin treatments from June 1 under strict COVID-safe guidelines.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said this is another important step in easing restrictions while maintaining public safety.
“Whilst this is positive news, the key is introducing practices to protect the safety of both customers and beauticians,” Ms Berejiklian.
“It is vital staff and clients of beauty and nail salons abide by the one person per 4 square metres rule with no more than 10 clients at any one time.”
NSW Health has compiled a checklist for the industry. Businesses must develop a safety plan that addresses how to minimise risk from COVID-19.
Safety plans will include measures such as:

• One person per 4 square metres including both staff and clients, up to a maximum of 10 clients at any one time;
• Exclusion of staff and clients who are unwell, even if they have only mild symptoms;
• Records of attendance on the business premises for all staff, clients and contractors;
• Cleaning requirements;
• Removal of books, magazines and iPads from waiting areas to reduce the potential for infection of clients;
• Seating in waiting areas that complies with physical distancing;
• Ensure good hand hygiene facilities are available, including at venue entry and exit, and promote excellent hand hygiene by staff;
• Clearly displayed conditions of entry on their entrance, website and social media platforms;
• Designating a staff member whose responsibilities include ensuring staff and clients have appropriate physical distancing and that the venue does not exceed the maximum capacity limit and;
• Measures to maximise distancing between staff where safe and practical, including assigning staff to specific work stations that are at least 1.5 metres apart and minimising any interaction between these stations;
• Encourage download of the COVID-safe app.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said clients must not attend salons if they are unwell even with the mildest of symptoms.
“NSW has worked hard to flatten the curve but as restrictions ease we need to ensure the good work continues to keep our community safe,” Mr Hazzard said.
“The elderly and people with underlying health issues should be particularly cautious when and if visiting salons.”
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said it was important beauty therapists and nail salons follow their safety plan, as these are environments where close contact will happen.
“All businesses must have a COVID-19 safety plan and take precautions to protect the health of their staff and their clients,” Dr Chant said.
Businesses covered include beauty, nail, waxing and tanning salons. Once beauty salons are open, any services that normally and legally take place in a beauty salon will be able to be undertaken. Any existing rules and regulations will continue to apply.

Hundreds of additional transport staff are being deployed across the network to assist customers as more people return to work and students are back in the classroom full time.
Minister for Transport Andrew Constance said hundreds of Transport Officers, Security Officers and Marshalling Officers will be out from tomorrow to help customers physical distance and stay safe on the network.
“This week we announced the COVIDSafe Transport Plan and rolled out green physical distancing dots across the entire network to show customers the safest places to sit and stand,” Mr Constance said.
“These Marshalling Response and Support Teams will monitor physical distancing, assist with crowd management and provide extra guidance to customers to help them move through stations and interchanges safely.
“This could mean forming lines at bus stops or limiting the amount of people who can enter onto a platform.
Mr Constance said customers will see these teams out and about across all modes of transport from tomorrow’s morning peak.
“Initially, 20 teams will be rolled out at key interchanges and transport hubs across Sydney and other busy centres including at Newcastle, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains.
“We are using data to identify key interchanges where these teams will be deployed, including Wynyard, Blacktown, Hurstville and Chatswood.”
Transport for NSW Chief Operations Officer Howard Collins said these new teams bolster efforts in providing a safe and clean public transport system, especially with students returning to school full time.
“Transport has a vital role to play in getting students back to school and we want to assure parents and carers we are working hard to support this return,” Mr Collins said.
“Most importantly, no school student will be turned away from any public transport, even if this means physical distancing won’t always be possible.
“Cleaning has been ramped up across the metro and regional networks, with more than 700 extra cleaners hired since March.
“These cleaning efforts will now include new real-time cleaners across the public transport network.”
“Customers are already seeing Sanitisation and Hygiene Agile Response Cleaners (SHARC) boarding buses at Bondi Junction and Parramatta to clean high touch areas, including Opal Card readers and stop buttons, in preparation for the next service.
“I am pleased to announce this initiative will also be rolled out at Wollongong Station from next week, with SHARC teams to be rolled out regionally, including Newcastle and Lismore, in the coming weeks,” Mr Collins said.
Mr Constance reminded road users to remain vigilant saying we expect to see significant increased activity around schools from tomorrow.
“As we are asking everyone to consider their travel options, including driving, this is not the time to get complacent about road safety,” Mr Constance said.
“We want to remind everyone 40 km/h school zones are active on every NSW school day.
“We are doing everything we practically can to keep everyone safe but we also need them to play their part.
“Our frontline transport staff have been doing an amazing job during this unprecedented time and we urge you to keep giving them your respect and understanding.”

The NSW Government has announced a $50 million Rescue and Restart package for NSW arts and cultural organisations to ensure the sector continues to make an important contribution to the NSW economy during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian today said this funding was the largest dedicated arts and cultural support package of any jurisdiction in Australia.
“This Rescue and Restart package will ensure the survival of some of the most significant arts and cultural organisations across NSW,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The NSW arts and cultural sector is an important contributor to the NSW economy as well as for our community’s well-being. We know that the arts is a place of refuge and a source of inspiration in these challenging times.”
The Rescue and Restart package will be delivered in two stages:
 

• Funding available now to enable NSW not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations to hibernate temporarily.
• Funding available in the coming months to enable NSW not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations to restart operations after the COVID-19 pandemic.

 
Funding will be available to NSW not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations assessed as being in financial distress across the State on a case by case basis.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the arts sector supports 118,000 jobs across NSW and contributes $16.4 billion directly and indirectly to the NSW Gross State Product.
“This funding is critical to keep more businesses in business and people in jobs as the as the NSW economy begins its recovery,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The Rescue and Restart package is intended to assist NSW arts and cultural organisations to hibernate, so they are in a strong position to restart operations when health guidelines permit.”
For more information, visit the Create NSW website

Animal lovers will soon be able to visit iconic Taronga Zoo again with the NSW Government announcing plans to reopen to the public from Monday, 1 June.
Environment Minister Matt Kean said families, animal lovers and dedicated zoo staff would be thrilled by the news, but also urged visitors to use common-sense to ensure community safety in the face of COVID-19.
“This is great news and I am sure zoos and wildlife parks right across the State will be excited to be putting out the welcome mat in coming weeks,” Mr Kean said.
“Because Taronga is predominantly outdoors, with a large amount of open space, they have the ability to ensure social distancing for visitors and staff, while still allowing everyone to enjoy the animals.”
Strict safety requirements will need to be adhered to for the re-opening, including ensuring clear physical distancing measures, adequate hand sanitiser available for staff and customers, and enhanced cleaning and disinfection.
Visitor numbers will be limited as zoos will have to comply with the 4 square metre rule per person.
Other zoos, aquariums and wildlife parks across NSW will also be able to re-open from June 1, providing they develop a COVID-19 safety plan that addresses measures in the NSW Health check-list.
Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello said the Government would be working to ensure the zoos had adequate plans in place and did everything possible to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“Zoos and wildlife parks are very experienced at managing people, and they will need to ensure patrons are aware of their responsibilities and what they need to do to have a fun and safe day,” Mr Dominello said.
“We need to slowly, surely and safely look to open NSW up again.”
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the imminent reopening was another step back from the COVID-19 lockdown.
“We are working with health authorities to allow industries to get back up and running again as we know that will help keep business in business and people in jobs,” Mr Perrottet said.
“It is vital that every step we take along the road to reopening is done with safety as a priority. Zoos and wildlife parks are well placed to be able to meet safety standards and not only provide a great day out for families but jobs for hundreds of staff.”
Mr Perrottet said the NSW Government would work with Taronga to ensure they opened safely and urged people planning a day out to check online or by phone before they visited any parks to make sure they could visit or if tickets needed to be pre-purchased.
“With the June long weekend and school holidays not far away we want to ensure they take appropriate measures to make this a success. For example, that might be only doing online tickets to control visitor numbers on busy days,” Mr Perrottet said.
Cameron Kerr, CEO, Taronga Conservation Society Australia said “Taronga Zoo is a place where guests can foster meaningful connections with wildlife and enjoy time in nature, which we know is so important for our physical and mental health.
“We are excited to be able to welcome visitors again and continue to provide that safe place for them to escape to.”
It also follows the easing of a range of restrictions including allowing cafes, pubs, clubs and restaurants to have up to 50 customers, subject to a one person per four square metre rule, and with strict social distancing guidelines from 1 June.
In a further boost to regional zoos and wildlife parks, it was announced last week that travel restrictions will also be eased from 1 June, allowing NSW residents to take a holiday anywhere in the state.
Information on health guidelines for businesses can be found at SafeWork NSW