WITH New South Wales hitting the 70% double vaccination target and NSW premier Dominic Perrottet confirming that 'freedom day' will be on Monday October 11, there are still a lot of unanswered questions from local business owners.
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As of Monday, businesses will need to enforce vaccination checks on each patron, and all employees will need to have at least one dose to work (there is a grace period until November 1 for staff to receive their second dose).
President of Kempsey Chamber of Business, Gary Scott, held a meeting with small business owners on Wednesday night and shared his findings.
"It would be good if the government can put some more clarity for how the retailers are going to manage people who aren't vaccinated," Mr Scott said.
"They are pretty well relying on all of the businesses to do their own investigation and make sure they have their own COVID safe plans in place, but ideally we would like service NSW to be opening as many health contact lines so businesses can contact them and ask questions.
85.7% of Kempsey has had their first dose, and 52.1% completed their second. Only fully vaccinated individuals will be able to have the freedoms listed in the roadmap.
Mr Scott discussed some local business owners concerns.
"The biggest worry is that business owners don't want to restrict trade, but they don't want to cop the fines either, so they are going to have to follow these COVID practices," Mr Scott said.
"A one or two-person business in a small retail shop, if they are already serving someone, are they going to have to come to the front of the store and check that someone has done the right thing, so they just want more clarity around the operational aspect.
"But people should not attack local business owners for doing the right thing by the public health orders, they are in threat of fines if they don't follow the process, we are all in this together and businesses aren't picking on the non vaccinated they are just trying to stay in business."
Vaccinations are proven to be highly effective against the COVID-19, and two does of the vaccine provide 90% protection from hospitalisation and death from the virus.
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Sam Payne
sam.payne@austcommunitymedia.com.au
sam.payne@austcommunitymedia.com.au
