To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Australian Government Tells Businesses To Prepare To Reopen

Australian Government Tells Businesses To Prepare To Reopen

Business owners have been told to create ‘Covid-safe workplaces', so they can welcome customers when they’re given the ‘green light’.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Australians have been given the first indication that life could be about to seemingly return to normal.

Businesses across the country have been told to get their workplace setup to be 'Covid-19 safe' so that they can open when the government gives them the green light.

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash has told Channel 7's Sunrise: "Each workplace needs to look at its individual circumstances in what will be the new normal environment we live in.

"The virus will still be with us, but if we can control the spread then we can restart the economy."

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Creative Commons)

There's no indication on when this green light could come, however it's the first sign that the government is eyeing up allowing businesses to reopen.

Scores of pubs, clubs, cafes, restaurants, retailers, workplaces and other businesses have been shut down since March 23 in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Economic stimulus packages have been offered to keep many of these places running, however operators are desperately awaiting the moment they can welcome customers again.

Ms Cash outlined some of the ways that businesses can be declared 'Covid-19 safe'.

PA

Operators can limit the number of people in-store at any one time, encourage customers to shop alone where possible, schedule deliveries to avoid crowding, clean door handles, lift buttons, hand rails and other high-touch objects and areas regularly, using floor markings to remind customers to maintain a distance of 1.5m, and ensure customers have downloaded the COVIDSafe contact tracing app.

The Northern Territory has been the first place in Australia to set a date for pubs, cafes, restaurants and bars to reopen, however they have to submit a proposal on how they will maintain safety.

Once the application is approved, those places will be able to open their doors from May 15.

The same process could be rolled out across Australia before the rest of the country gets the green light to open.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: News, Australia