Petrol stations, convenience stores, supermarkets and grocery stores are among the retail premises that are allowed to continue trading across Greater Sydney.
Given the number of infectious cases in the community, Gladys Berejiklian has tightened lockdown restrictions until 11.59pm on Friday 30 July, to further limit the spread of the COVID-19 Delta strain.
Across Greater Sydney, including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong, and Shellharbour retail premises will be required to close (‘click and collect’, takeaway and home delivery can still operate), except the following can remain open:
- Supermarkets and grocery stores (including butchers, bakeries, fruit and vegetable stores, liquor stores and fishmongers);
- Stores that predominantly sell health, medical, maternity and infant supplies;
- Pharmacies and chemists;
- Petrol stations;
- Car hire;
- Banks and financial institutions;
- Hardware, nurseries and building supplies;
- Agricultural and rural supplies;
- Pet supplies;
- Post offices and newsagents; and
- Office supplies.
In addition to the stay-at-home rules, residents of Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool LGAs cannot leave their LGA for work except for emergency services and healthcare workers (including aged and disability workers). Where those workers do need to leave their LGA for work, they are required to be tested every three days, even if they do not have symptoms.
Anyone who leaves the home must have a mask with them at all times. Masks must be worn when working outdoors, in outdoor markets, outdoor shopping strips, and in an outdoor queues waiting for products such as coffee and food.
All other restrictions currently in place across Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour will remain in place.
The Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) has provided a simplified breakdown of what the new restrictions mean for workers in the P&C channel. This is shared with permission below:
- Retail Staff in stores are classed as Authorised Workers (Type 1)
- Fuel Wholesale transportation staff are classed as Authorised Workers (Type 33)
- Freight & Logistics staff are classed as Authorised Workers (Type 28 & 30)
These staff that live in the Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool LGAs are permitted to leave for essential work provided that:
- If symptomatic there is no movement: The employee is required to get a test and isolate at home, not coming into work at all – no matter if they are an Authorised Worker.
- Movement is the bare minimum: The employee travels directly to work and back to their LGA. No additional travel or contact outside of the LGA is allowed other than attending a COVID-19 testing clinic on the way to, or nearby the workplace. They are only permitted to leave their Hotspot LGA to be at work and contact with the community must be minimised.
- Surveillance testing is conducted: The employee must have been tested during the prior 72 hours for COVID-19 in line with the surveillance testing program and carry evidence of their test to present to inspectors and managers.
Freight and stock deliveries into the three restricted LGAs:
- This is permitted and these workers are classed under Authorised Workers Type 28 & 30.
- All COVID Safe rules must be adhered to during these deliveries and time inside the LGA should be minimised.
- These staff are not required to have a surveillance test after entering any of the three restricted LGAs.
By Deb Jackson
c-store.com.au
