Thursday 30 December, 2021
The South Australian business community has shown an incredible ability to adapt and pivot over the last two years. With the promise of easing restrictions at 90% vaccination indefinitely postponed now due to the new Omicron variant, South Australia’s peak employer body is calling for a new plan.
The South Australian Business Chamber Chair Nikki Govan says that while we appreciate that the Omicron variant has been an unexpected curveball, businesses need more certainty from now on.
“The Premier has said that he and the Treasurer are on track to announcing financial support for the business community this week. There can be no delays to implementing this and no hoops to jump through for this support.
“This financial support should be part of their next plan for a 90% fully vaccinated South Australia.
“While some of our the South Australian Business Chamber members can direct their staff to work from home, there are considerable amounts in customer service or factory settings that cannot do this. Sending staff home means closing the business doors.
“We welcome the redefined ‘close’ contact announced today by Prime Minister Scott Morrison following the national cabinet held. Someone who has spent four hours or more with a confirmed case in a household or household-like setting – these are the people who now require quarantine for seven days and to take a rapid antigen test on day six.
“Under the previous definitions of close and casual contacts, South Australian businesses were seeing vast numbers of their staff lost to quarantine. This new definition will keep more South Australians able to work and the doors of business open.
“We agree that you can’t just take people out of action for a week when they happen to be at a particular place at a specific time.
“The previous definition of a close contact caused a massive decline in turnover for South Australian businesses. They often had to close their doors because they had not had enough staff to cover those sent to isolation.
“On behalf of our members and the broader business community, I encourage all South Australians that can to get vaccinated. Now that children aged 5 – 11 can also receive the vaccination, we can look forward to greater freedoms as more are fully vaccinated.
