Retail industry groups have welcomed the easing of some of the last remaining COVID restrictions in Victoria and New South Wales.
The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and the National Retail Association (NRA) have praised the Victorian and New South Wales governments' decision to roll back COVID isolation rules for close contacts.
From tomorrow, April 22, close contacts in the two states will not have to undertake seven days isolation provided they avoid sensitive settings (aged care, hospitals etc), wear masks in indoor settings outside of the home and undertake RAT tests during what would have been their isolation period.
For those in New South Wales, the rules come into effect at 6pm, while those in Victoria have to wait to 11.59pm.
NRA CEO Dominique Lamb said the announcements will make a big difference to small retailers in the states.
"Isolation rules have been critical in reducing the severity of infection rates, but as vaccination rates peak, close contacts who are vaccinated should be able to continue to work, or we will continually have large numbers of people out of the workforce.
"Small businesses are losing massive chunks of revenue as their employees are unable to work.
"This is causing our economy to fall behind other developed countries that are prospering from an active workforce.
"In the past two years we have mitigated the risks as much as possible, at times to the detriment of the retail and hospitality workforce.
"It’s time to move forward and get healthy people back to work," she said.
Other rules eased in Victoria include the removal of; vaccination checks of patron in all venues; check-in requirements at venues for staff and patrons; and, masks in retail and hospitality settings, in primary schools and early childhood, and at events of any size.
However, vaccination requirements remain in place for workers and masks are still required in some settings including on public transport and at airports.
Additionally, all workplaces will still require a COVIDSafe Plan.
Meanwhile, in New South Wales, public health orders requiring key workforces to be vaccinated will be lifted, with vaccine requirements to be based on risk assessments under occupational work health and safety.
Similarly to its southern counterpart, masks will still be required on public transport, planes, and indoors at airports and cruise terminals in New South Wales.
ARA CEO Paul Zahra said retailers will be pleased to see the strain of staff shortages eased.
"We’re one of the most vaccinated countries in the world, and into the third year of this pandemic.
"Staff shortages due to COVID isolations have been an enormous frustration for small businesses in particular, with 48% of ARA Members saying the situation had gotten worse in the past month.
"Some have had to alter their trading hours, or close some locations altogether, because they haven’t been able get people to fill shifts at the last minute.
"[These announcements are] an enormous relief for businesses who haven’t been able to trade at their full potential.
"The days of overzealous COVID rules are over," he said.