Like others around Australia, our local businesses are being kept on their toes by not knowing what their staffing levels will be day-to-day as the result of COVID 19 infections and interruptions to their supply chains.

The Bugle has spoken to a number of businesses that have had to close, reduce their opening hours or revert to takeaway. The situation is so fluid that we have chosen not to spotlight them here. It is impossible to say on a day-to-day basis what these businesses will face as the Omicron surge continues into February, leaving everyone on edge.

The shortage of Rapid Antigen Tests and delay in getting professional test results is making the situation even harder to manage.

For business owners, it’s essentially a lockdown without the financial support at what for many is usually their busiest time of the year. 

Business Illawarra, the region’s peak business organisation, believes businesses impacted by the Omicron surge need to be provided short-term support by the NSW Government as they battle to keep their doors open.

“Business is not seeking a handout, but we are seeking support to keep the doors open for the first three months of 2022,” Executive Director of Business Illawarra Adam Zarth says.

“It’s been a really challenging Christmas and New Year period for Illawarra businesses of all sizes across many industries as they battled staff shortages arising from workers becoming infected and isolating, and a drop in consumer confidence.

“All this has been severely exacerbated by the unavailability of Rapid Antigen Tests. I’d love to know when these tests will be available.

“On behalf of businesses, we have been raising the severe frustration felt that while there has been a road map on the table since October for reopening the economy no-one saw fit to plan to have Rapid Antigen Tests available so people could test themselves to ensure they could return to work.

“Omicron was a bit of a surprise, but this is what the pandemic keeps doing - surprising us! And the lack of preparation with Rapid Antigen Tests is the subject of great frustration for business owners.”

Business Illawarra lobbying for measures that can provide some swift and short-term support for businesses, including:

• allowing all close contact employees to return to the workplace on the presentation of a negative RAT, reducing the need for mandated periods of isolation
• an extension of the SME Summer Stock Guarantee to allow impacted businesses to apply to the guarantee if their business has been closed due to a case on their premises leading to majority staff stand-down for more than 3 days and/or to abide by close contact instructions from NSW Health
• an extension of the commercial rent relief for commercial tenants who have and likely will have closed or ceased trade between 15 December and 14 January due to current COVID trade impacts
• the reinstatement of the Hardship Review Panel to assess business impacts into 2022.

At the moment, around 20 per cent of Council’s workforce has been affected by COVID.

“In terms of working from home, business continuity plans have been put in place to assist in separation of teams for indoor workforce (including some working from home) to assist in providing service continuity,” says a statement from Council. 

“Our other services remain ‘business as usual’ – waste is still being collected, toilets cleaned and lifeguards are patrolling beaches. Those who are isolating and can work from home, are doing so where possible.”