Sydney will remain in lockdown for another week, although packaging businesses appear to be free to carry on manufacturing, providing they adhere to the five main caveats.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that while she appreciated the economic impact of extending the lockdown, she did not want to have a situation where the city was yo-yoing in and out of lockdowns, and said she believed it was better for business to have a clear fix, with the certainty that brings.
Calling on the five million people in Sydney to wortk together she said, "This is our biggest challenge yet, and our one chance to beat this."
However, Berejiklian, together with health minster Brad Hazzard and Dr Kerry Chant, did not rule out further restrictions, highlighting four local government areas in south-west Sydney as areas that could go into hard lockdown; Fairfield, Canterbury, Bankstown and Liverpool. If that happens packaging businesses in those areas would face more onerous restrictions, but would still likely to be able to keep functioning.
The present restrictions for all metro Sydney now apply until and including Friday 16 July.
All other states and cities are now out of lockdown, Victoria is now a week without any cases, but mask-wearing at work remains mandatory, Queensland has a handful of cases, but they are contained. WA and SA are mainly free of infections. NSW though is battling continuing outbreaks.
Packaging manufacturing under lockdown in the eastern states has been allowed to continue operating, under five main caveats, with the sector classed as an essential service.
Those caveats include allowing staff who can work from home to do just that, so admin and sales staff should where possible not be coming into the workplace.
It also means staff at work need to wear masks at all times. Social distancing needs to be maintained, which includes the 1.5m rule, and maximum one person for every four sqm inside.
A Covid-safe plan needs to be implemented, communicated and understood by staff. And details of any visitors need to be registered.
