COVID Update: New South Wales Stage One Reopening, 6 October 2021

The weather is warming up, the gardens are flowering and there is a feeling of positivity in the air. We are nearly at the end of this craziness and your resilience has been incredible. Thank you for your amazing commitment to this industry and for your flexibility around the constant changes and obstacles that have been thrown our way. We really are the best industry in the universe!

It is expected that either today or tomorrow we will hit the 70% double vaccination rate in New South Wales and so from Monday, 11 October, Stage One of the ‘Roadmap to Re-opening’ will be in force. So what exactly does that mean?

Eased restrictions will allow those who are fully vaccinated to have:

  • 5-visitor limit in your home.
  • Access to Gyms, indoor recreation and sporting facilities (excluding indoor swimming pools).
  • Visit hospitality settings with up to 20 people per booking.
  • All premises will operate at 1 person per 4sqm indoors and 1 person per 2sqm outdoors.
  • Masks required for all staff and customers in all indoor settings (except children under the age of 12).
  • Masks no longer required in outdoor settings (except for front-of-house hospitality staff).
  • COVID Safe check-ins and proof of vaccination required for staff and customers.
  • Employers should allow staff to continue to work from home, if reasonably practicable.
  • Employers require staff who are not fully vaccinated to work from home, if reasonably practicable.
  • Construction sites operate at maximum daily workforce numbers.
  • Occupied construction reopens (including cleaning, maintenance, renovations to buildings and other indoor trade works).
  • Non-critical retail reopens with density limits (people who are not fully vaccinated can only access non-critical retail via Click & Collect). This includes showrooms.

The New South Wales government has put together some helpful information to help businesses understand proof of vaccination requirements. Please follow the links below to the relevant documents.

Summary of the public health measures for businesses:

  • If a staff member tests positive, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, they must self-isolate for 14 days and follow the advice from NSW Health. 
  • Businesses will refer to their COVID-19 Safety Plan and risk assessment approach for further instructions on notifying other staff.
  • Businesses must inform NSW Health if three or more employees test positive for COVID-19 in a seven-day period.
  • NSW Health guidelines will enable businesses to assess workplace risk if a COVID-19 case is identified and confirm actions to be taken.
  • You can reduce the risk of closure or staff going into isolation by implementing rigorous COVID-19 Safety Plans. Other proactive steps you can take include ensuring staff are vaccinated and implementing regular onsite testing programs for workers.

Summary of vaccination compliance and obligations:

Businesses are responsible for taking reasonable steps to prevent unvaccinated people entering your premises. For example, having prominent signs stating requirements, Service NSW QR codes, staff checking vaccination status upon entry and only accepting valid forms of evidence of vaccination, or medical exemption.

I hope this information is helpful. As always please do not hesitate to contact myself or any of the AGWA team if you have any questions.

Take care, stay safe and look after each other,

Melissa Baker
National Industry Development Manager
Australian Glass and Window Association