COVID-19 Updates

NSW Bulletin

There have been recent COVID health orders in NSW, and those are set to change tomorrow.  However, ACWA has received some questions around QR Code Check-ins and mask requirements. We, therefore, provide the following advice as a summary of NSW conditions:

On Friday, 18 February 2022, the Government made the following adjustments to NSW COVID settings:

• QR check-ins are only required for nightclubs and all music festivals with more than 1,000 people
• No density limits (previously one person per 2sqm for hospitality venues)
• Hospitals, aged and disability facilities may use their existing systems for recording visitors
• Singing and dancing is permitted at all venues, except music festivals
• The recommendation to work from home will change and be returned to the employer’s discretion

The following further adjustments are to be made from Friday, 25 February 2022 (tomorrow):

• Masks will only be mandated on public transport, planes, and indoors at airports, hospitals, aged and disability care facilities, corrections facilities, and indoor music festivals with more than 1,000 people.
• Masks are encouraged for indoor settings where you cannot maintain a safe distance from others and for customer-facing retail staff to protect vulnerable people who must access these premises and services.
• Each State Government agency will review where it may be appropriate for public-facing staff to wear masks .
• The 20,000 person cap on music festivals will be removed, with singing and dancing permitted.
• Vaccination requirements will remain for indoor music festivals over 1,000 people, with attendees required to have at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Queensland Bulletin

There are changing COVID conditions in Queensland, particularly in South East Queensland, ACWA advises as follows:

From 6 pm on Friday 4 March 2022:

• Masks will no longer be required indoors, except in hospitals, residential aged care, disability accommodation, prisons, public transport, airports and planes.
• Masks will no longer be required in schools.  This includes staff, students and visitors.
• Masks are recommended whenever social distancing cannot be maintained.
• Venues and events will no longer have capacity limits.
• There will be no limit on the number of visitors you can have in your home at one time.

Until 4 March, restrictions and requirements will continue to be in place.

The Queensland Public Health information can be found here

https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/public-health-directions/public-health-social-measures?_cldee=c2NvdHRAcHJvd2FzaC5jb20uYXU%3d&recipientid=contact-7a039c0287e8e81180e6000d3ae0def9-2a670b9932ea43bfb279f078875fc904&esid=0873fdb2-3d94-ec11-b400-00224811e5b9

A reminder to all Victorian members that all Victorian workplaces must have a COVIDSafe Plan in place.

The government has released a new template to assist businesses to ensure that their plans cover all the current requirements. It is not mandatory to use this template, but it provides an excellent checklist to ensure your wash’s current COVIDSafe Plans comply with legislation.

Your COVIDSafe Plan must:

• Outline your actions to help prevent the introduction of COVID-19 to your workplace
• Prescribe the type of face mask or personal protective equipment (PPE) required for your workforce
• How you will prepare for and respond to a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in your workplace
• How you will meet all the requirements set out by the Victorian Government.
• Organisations with multiple worksites must complete a COVIDSafe Plan for each worksite.

The Victorian Government is offering a free support service for small to medium businesses to ensure your COVIDSafe Plan is up to date and reflects current COVIDSafe Settings

Further detail and information can be found here https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/covidsafe-plan

 

Update – Public Health Measures for Queensland Businesses from 17 December 2021 (or 80% Vaccination).

About three weeks ago, ACWA updated Queensland members regarding COVID control measures for business post the Queensland 80% double vaccinated landmark (estimated to be 17 December 2021).

ACWA has continued to monitor the situation and provides the following update to members. An important summary of vaccination requirements and rules for business can be found here   https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/220377/DPC7976-Vaccine-status-plan.pdf?_cldee=c2NvdHRAcHJvd2FzaC5jb20uYXU%3d&recipientid=contact-7a039c0287e8e81180e6000d3ae0def9-0910a9986876479ab8228b18cdb289d1&esid=c8a3c2dd-5052-ec11-8f8e-00224811c2cf

Can a Car Wash Site Service the Unvaccinated?

From the information published to date, we surmise that car washing is categorised in the “other settings” grouping.  Therefore, vaccinated AND unvaccinated community members can access car washes.

Do Car Wash Staff Need to be Vaccinated?

The Queensland Government’s most recent press release on the topic of mandatory staff vaccination almost rules out any need for car wash operators to ensure their staff are vaccinated.

At this time mandatory worker vaccinations are only required in specific settings, including the following environments:

• Hospitals and Healthcare
• Residential Aged Care
• Quarantine
• Hospitality
• Indoor and Outdoor Entertainment
• Those working at Festivals and Events
• Workers in Education and Early Childhood Environments
• Corrections, youth justice Settings
• Airport Settings.

The health directions for mandatory staff vaccination can be found here:

https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/public-health-directions/vaccination-requirements-for-workers-in-high-risk-settings

The Victorian Government has announced that from 11:59 pm, Thursday 18 November 2021, most COVID-19 restrictions will be removed. Conditions will continue to be lifted as Victoria’s vaccination level approaches and pass the 90% double dose marker.

Thirty-six hours after the announcement, the site has not been updated.  When business restrictions are published, they will be found here https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/how-we-work-current-restrictions

What do we know?

• Mandatory wearing of face masks is only required in specific high-risk settings,
  • High-risk settings such as health services
  • Child care
  • Food processing
  • Primary school staff and visitors, and students in Years 3 to 6
  • Workers serving customers at hospitality venues
  • Workers and customers at indoor retail premises
  • People travelling on public transport, rideshare, and planes.
• Non Vaccinated individuals are subject to restrictions outside “essential retail.”
  • Only workers who have received their first COVID vaccination dose are permitted at work premises, and they must be double vaccinated by 26 November 2021
  • Workers and customers entering a hospitality venue must be fully vaccinated
  • Workers and customers entering non-essential retail premises must be fully vaccinated
• Changes to the contract tracing process where a person attending a business is diagnosed with COVID-19.
  • Most coming into contact with a confirmed positive case won’t have to self-quarantine
  • People who test positive will only be required to isolate for ten days rather than 14 days.
  • A close contacts are required to get a test and isolate until they get a negative result
  • Staff who are positive cases will be required to notify their workplace.  Where this occurs, the business owner must notify employees and sub-contractors, but not customers, and advise them to get tested.
  • Exposure to a positive COVID case won’t automatically result in quarantining of customers and staff of a business
  • Exposure sites will no longer be published and notification of high risk patrons via the Service Vic App.
• Changes to capacity and density limits

• • There will be no limit on the number of people who can attend a home, enter a business, or gather in public.
  • All indoor and outdoor events with less than 30,000 fully vaccinated attendees can proceed without seeking approval and larger outdoor events will require the publishing of their COVIDSafe plan.
  • Their will be no limits on weddings, funerals or entertainment venues.

With recent announcements around the freeing up (or not in the case of WA) of COVID conditions around the country, ACWA provides this “around the grounds” look at the COVID conditions Australia-wide.

The focus of this bulletin, where possible, is on the most recent announcements for each State. Let’s start with the vaccination clubhouse leaders, the ACT.

Australian Capital Territory

The ACT Government recently announced, having reached 95% of the eligible population being fully vaccinated, the easing of restrictions will be brought forward to 11.59 pm on Thursday, November 11 2021.  You can find press release details here:

https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/barr/2021/next-step-in-act-pathway-forward-brought-forward-by-two-weeks

From November 12, there will be:

• No more limits on home visits or informal outdoor gatherings.
• The default density limit will be one person per two square metres in most indoor settings and industries, including hospitality and retail.
• Having a drink while standing at the bar will be permitted, nightclubs will reopen, and dancing permitted.
• Face masks will only be required in high-risk settings, such as hospitals and aged care facilities, public transport, schools, and some business settings. However, Canberrans will be encouraged to continue wearing face masks indoors in crowded environments.

However, it should be noted that travel exemption requirements will stay in place for designated, high-risk geographical areas across the country.

Requirements for businesses do not appear to have changed. However, we will continue to monitor the website here https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/restrictions/current-restrictions.

Northern Territory

Darwin and Katherine have just exited their short period of “lockout”.

“The lockout” is a new approach introduced in the NT.  This approach allows those fully vaccinated to undertake “normal” activities, whilst those who are not fully vaccinated need to follow lockdown style rules, including only leaving home for essential purposes.

With the lockout now concluded, a mask-wearing mandate has been put in place until Friday, November 12, 2021.

Members within the Northern Territory are reminded that the Mandatory Vaccination requirements require relevant workers to have their first vaccination by November 13, 2021.

Current COVID rules for business can be found here https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/business-and-work/business.

New South Wales

Hot on the tail of their cousins in the ACT, NSW is expected to pass the 95% double vaccination target around December 15 2021.  At this point, restrictions for all people in NSW will further ease.

In the interim, the latest easing of restrictions for fully vaccinated people happened last Monday, November 8 2021, allowing those who are fully vaccinated to enjoy:

• No capacity limits for significant recreation and entertainment facilities.
• No limits to the number of visitors to their homes.
• No booking limits for restaurants and hospitality.

Details of the November 8 changes can be found here https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/easing-covid-19-restrictions/opening-in-november.

Rules for the unvaccinated can be located here https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/stay-safe/rules/not-fully-vaccinated.

Detailed business rules, including vaccination compliance for business, can be found here https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/business/rules.

Victoria

Victoria’s COVID settings have not changed since 6:00 pm, October 29 2021.

For a State that has flopped and flopped around with COVID regulations, two weeks of consistency is perhaps something to be celebrated. However, where most states seem to condense their rules into one or two pages of a website, Victoria’s regulations are voluminous.

Vaccination reminders for Victoria – With effect from 6 pm on November 12 2021, a medical vaccination exemption must be an Australian Immunisation Register immunisation medical exemption form. Other forms of documentation previously accepted will no longer be valid.

For those with a penchant for detail, the following links are provided:

• Victoria’s COVID settings can be found here https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/how-we-live
• Information for Victorian Business can be found here https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/business-and-work

Queensland

The Queensland Government made two significant announcements on November 9 2021:

Masks: Once Queensland reaches the milestone of 80% of the State having at least a single dose of vaccination, masks will no longer be required in schools, cafes, clubs, hairdressers and workplaces. The media release highlighted that masks will still be required in airports and on planes. They are also strongly recommended for public transport and places where people cannot socially distance themselves. The exact date of this change is not precise, but it is expected to be within days.

Vaccination: With effect from December 17 or when 80% of eligible Queenslanders are fully vaccinated, pubs, clubs and music venues will be freed of all restrictions provided all patrons and staff are fully vaccinated.

Queensland members received a more detailed update yesterday; however, current COVID rules for business can be found here https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/covid-19-restrictions/current.

Western Australia

When WA announced its “Safe Transition Plan” on November 5 2021, the State pretty much signalled it was steady as she goes for everyone in WA until sometime in January/February 2022.  At this point in time, it is expected that WA will achieve a 90% double dose rate (12 years and older).

The Safe Transition Plan focussed on movement in and out of Western Australia and relevant border controls.  Details of WA’s Safe Transition Plan can be found here https://www.wa.gov.au/government/announcements/was-safe-transition-plan

However, there are interim COVID regulations in place, and they are summarised as follows:

• Face masks for some high-risk indoor settings (e.g. public transport, hospitals and aged care facilities)
• Proof of vaccination for significant events (1,000+), nightclubs and the casino
• Contact registration (SafeWA) at all public venues
• Revised COVID Event and Safety Plans
• Restricted entry to remote Aboriginal communities, where necessary.

The current regulations for business remain unchanged and can be found here https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/covid-19-coronavirus-business-and-industry-advice.

South Australia

On October 26 2021, the South Australian Government announced changes to COVID Regulations would be introduced from November 23 2021.  The changes include:

• Borders to open to fully vaccinated domestic travellers (quarantine will continue to apply to travellers from LGAs with community transmission and less than 80 per cent fully vaccinated)
• Seven days quarantine for vaccinated international travellers, 14 days for unvaccinated authorised arrivals
• Masks and density requirements would remain
• 30 people will be allowed at home gatherings

Once 90 per cent of South Australians aged 12+ are fully vaccinated:

• Borders will be open to all fully vaccinated domestic and international arrivals
• 14 days of quarantine for unvaccinated arrivals
• Restrictions on most activities will be lifted
• High-risk activities (nightclubs, standing alcohol consumption) will only be available to fully vaccinated people
• Masks remain in high-risk settings (hospitals, aged care)
• COVID-19 management plans are to remain

The State is currently under Level 1 restrictions (plus several additional restrictions).  The details for these conditions can be found here https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/restrictions-and-responsibilities/activities-and-gatherings/current-activity-restrictions.

Tasmania

Tasmania’s most recent COVID announcement was made on November 10 2021, when it announced changes to travel arrangements to and from Tasmania.

• From December 15 2021, travellers aged 12 years and two months and older, including returning residents, will need to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (unless exempt) to enter Tasmania without the need to quarantine.
• Travellers who have been in high-risk areas in the 14 days before their arrival in Tasmania will also be required to have returned a negative COVID-19 test within the 72 hours before departure for Tasmania (unless exempt). This testing requirement will not apply to travellers who have been out of Tasmania for fewer than seven days.
• Proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test (for travellers from high-risk areas) may be required to be provided on arrival in Tasmania.
• Tasmanian residents who cannot provide evidence of the required vaccination or testing (for travellers from high-risk areas) on arrival will be directed to quarantine until they can provide proof or return a negative COVID-19 result.

The current business and community regulations have pretty much been in place since September 2021.

Under these conditions, all businesses and workplaces in Tasmania are permitted to operate. Still, they must implement measures to meet the minimum COVID-19 safety standards.  This includes a COVID-19 Safety plan. For more information, go to https://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/business-and-employees/covid-19-safe-workplaces-framework

COVID-19 UPDATE – VICTORIA

Members will be aware that yesterday the Victorian Government announced an easing of restrictions in Melbourne from 11.59 pm this coming Thursday, 21 October.  The Premier’s announcement came as a result of Victoria reaching the 70% double dose vaccination trigger earlier than first anticipated.

Reaching the 70% vaccination point triggers the next stage of the State Government’s “Roadmap”; however the government has also announced the additional relaxation of some community and hospitality industry regulations.

The changes also include the removal of the travel limit restriction within metropolitan Melbourne and the removal of the curfew. However, travel between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria does not change.  Changes are summarised in the table below.

What does this mean for car washing? 

Page 8 of the Victoria Roadmap provides for “General Retail being open for outdoor service only (plus contactless click and collect/delivery)”.

There does not appear to be a definition of “outdoor”; however, ACWA interprets the regulation as a clear sign that car washing, including self-serve, may be open.

Hand wash undertaken in an outdoor setting would also be permitted.

 Please note mandatory vaccination and Worker Permits are still required. Masks are required to be worn.

The Roadmap can be found here https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-09/Roadmap_Metro_220921_5.pdf?_cldee=c2NvdHRAcHJvd2FzaC5jb20uYXU%3d&recipientid=contact-7a039c0287e8e81180e6000d3ae0def9-ff59b4636be545b2b090d9102eb52230&esid=fba60721-f32e-ec11-b6e6-0022481152b8

Summary of Yesterday’s Announcement

	Metropolitan Melbourne	Regional Victoria
Curfew	Removed	N/A
Travel	No limit across metropolitan Melbourne. Unless authorised, people unable to travel across metropolitan and regional boundary.	No limit across regional Victoria. Unless authorised, people unable to travel across metropolitan and regional boundary.
Visitors to Home	10 visitors per day, including dependents. Vaccinations are highly recommended but not mandatory.	10 visitors per day, including dependents. Vaccinations are highly recommended but not mandatory.
Public Gatherings	15 people inc. dependents. Vaccinations are highly recommended but not mandatory.	20 people inc. dependents. Vaccinations are highly recommended but not mandatory.
Hospitality	Open 20 fully vaccinated patrons indoors. 50 fully vaccinated patrons outdoors.	Open 20 fully vaccinated patrons indoors. 100 fully vaccinated patrons outdoors.
Hairdressing	Open 5 fully vaccinated patrons.	Open 30 fully vaccinated patrons.
Funerals and weddings	20 fully vaccinated people indoors. 50 fully vaccinated people outdoors.	20 fully vaccinated people indoors. 100 fully vaccinated people outdoors.
Childcare	Open Fully vaccinated parents.	Open Fully vaccinated parents.
Schools	Students in Years 3 to 11 return on Friday 22 October 2021	Students in Years 3 to 11 return on Friday 22 October 2021

 

Employer and Employee Rights – Victoria’s  Mandatory Vaccination Regulations

ACWA members have asked the Association for clarification on what the mandatory vaccination regulations in Victoria mean for car wash operators and their employees.

Courtesy of our great friends at ESSA (the ACWA IR Helpline) and drawing on the legal perspective from HR Legal’s Dan Feldman,  ACWA members can make use of the detailed information and template emailed (today) 13 October.

ACWA members have been invited to participate in a webinar on the topic – please refer to the email for the link and timing.

Members Update

The rest of Australia is cheering for our NSW cousins as they head towards the first significant step to reopening this Monday.  What a mighty effort from the NSW community, and our congratulations to all of you for your dogged success in vaccinating yourselves to “freedom”.

Let’s also take this opportunity to send a shout out to ACWA  members in the ACT, who are due to come out of lockdown next Friday the 15^th October.  Your vaccination efforts have also been massive.

We are also thrilled to advise that the Victorian Government approved that car wash premises can operate in a fully contactless manner earlier this week.  This was a small but hard-fought win in a state that has taken a hard-line and, some might argue, a fatally uncompromising position on small to medium business during the State’s COVID pandemic.

For more than a year, ACWA has relentlessly pursued the Government to change its position and supported by those members who petitioned the local politicians, together we finally managed to move the mountain!  We trust that this change, along with the $2 million in ACWA negotiated car wash grants that have flowed to operators, will help in some way to get Victorian operators to the COVID finish line.

New South Wales

Changes to the NSW Roadmap

Yesterday NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, announced changes to the NSW Roadmap for Recovery. There appears to be little in the announcement that will impact car wash businesses; however, several changes to “freedoms” will be of great personal interest.  The media release can be seen here https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/nsw-on-road-to-reopening?_cldee=c2NvdHRAcHJvd2FzaC5jb20uYXU%3d&recipientid=contact-7a039c0287e8e81180e6000d3ae0def9-0f0b5bee152843269781cd7602a7d83c&esid=db5a1f02-1a27-ec11-b6e6-002248111f3d.

Preparing for Your Business to Reopen in NSW

From Monday, October 11, the first of the significant relaxation of restrictions come into effect. ACWA’s take on the situation is that car wash sites are free to open, providing you take reasonable steps to ensure your business is COVID safe.

Ongoing COVID safety includes implementing the general safety plan as outlined on the NSW Government’s Website here https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/covid-safe/general-safety-plan.  Please also ensure your site is QR code compliant you can do this by heading here https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/covid-safe/customer-record-keeping.

Importantly take the time to check out the business requirements here https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/businesses-and-employment/covid-safe-business.  This website area also houses the Government’s support resources, including posters and signage that will help keep your car wash covid compliant and safe.

Victoria

Vaccination for authorised workers from October 15 2021

Specifics regarding the Public Health Directions for the new mandatory vaccination rules for “authorised workers” that become effective from October 15 2021, are not yet available.  ACWA will relay them to members as they become available.

Victoria

Dear Member

Please note contactless car washing has been added to the Victorian Authorise Providers List and is effective immediately!

The details of the change can be found here https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/authorised-provider-and-authorised-worker-list

The wording is as follows “ car wash premises able to operate in a fully contactless manner (excludes mobile and pickup/delivery services);”

The intention of ACWA’s application to the CHO was based on automatic contactless payment; however, the wording on the Authorised Providers List is somewhat different.

As ACWA has repeatedly maintained throughout the COVID process, we are not in a position to provide a legal interpretation, so we ask that you make your own reading of the regulation or speak to your legal representative.

Important… It is up to all of us to make sure we do everything in our power to make commercial carwashing covid free.  All requirements of Authorised Workplaces are required, including COVID Safe Plans QR code check-in and mandatory vaccinations.

We understand members will be keen to open as soon as possible, so this communication has been developed and circulated in haste.  In the coming days, ACWA will provide further detail as well as signage advising customers that car washing is a permitted provider.