The state’s peak business organisation Business NSW has welcomed the decision by the NSW Government to end the isolation requirements for COVID close contacts.
Close contacts no longer have to isolate, so long as they comply with stringent guidelines, including undertaking a daily RAT before heading to work.
“This is great news for the business community and I commend the Premier for his swift action,” Business NSW Chief Executive Daniel Hunter said.
“I joined with my Victorian counterpart in calling for this to happen in the two largest economies in the nation and both the Victorian and NSW Government have listened to the needs of business,” Mr Hunter said.
“This has been a difficult time for many business owners who’ve had to close their doors or operate under reduced conditions because healthy staff have been at home in isolation.
“It also made no sense that some industries were exempt from these rules – the unfairness was creating a two-tiered structure and that was damaging to business confidence and future planning.
“Small businesses in particular, can plan future production with more confidence knowing that staff are more likely to be available for long periods of time with the relaxation of these rules.
“Business fully appreciates the complexity of dealing with the pandemic and the conditions that had to be imposed to keep the community safe, and the Government has done a stellar job in that regard,” Mr Hunter said.
While the loss of life was by far the worst and most visible aspect of the COVID pandemic, the tragedy of lifelong family businesses being lost forever, was also a major aspect.
Careers, were ended, fortunes and homes were lost and “shutting up shop for good” was a common theme heard around every suburb and city centre.
Life now returns to normal for many, but for many others, life will never be quite the same.
About Business NSW
Formerly the NSW Business Chamber, Business NSW is the peak policy and advocacy body which has been representing businesses in NSW since 1826.
