Good morning, as we have now moved into Phase 3, below are the details of what this means for businesses, who can come to work, who needs to isolate, and what financial support is available.
Omicron is firmly in our community and it is important that we minimise the risk of spread so that businesses can continue to function. There is a new financial support package but looking at the criteria I don't think many businesses in our industry are going to be able to access it.
The Printing Museum has a Platen for sale and wants to buy a wire binder - scroll down to see if you can help them.
As always, If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact the PrintNZ team.
RAT TESTS
Thank you to everyone for their orders of RAT kits - the response was far bigger than we expected and it is good to be able to make these available to the industry. Unfortunately there have been delays with these getting to us for distribution - as there are with many things at the moment - but rest assured they are coming from a reputable source and I know they are being pushed through with urgency. Please bear with us, we will get these to you as quickly as we can and hope to have this process completed by the end of next week.
RAT tests and masks will become even more important as the requirement for close contacts to isolate is removed, and positive cases are able to continue to work in critical roles, potentially exposing your employees further. We will look to place a second order next week and hopefully the supply chains will be a little smoother - if you are wanting more masks please let us know.
We also hope to be offering supplies of FFP2 (N95) masks at the same time - watch this space.
PHASE 3 (in a nutshell)
The changes at Phase 3 relate to how positive cases, household contacts and close contacts are managed. All settings in the Red Traffic light with regard to size of events, vaccine passes, mask wearing etc remain unchanged.
The main changes at Phase 3 are summarised as follows:
All businesses can continue to operate.
Positive cases need to self-isolate for 10 days.
Only Household Close Contacts are required to self-isolate. Test at day 3 and day 10 or immediately if symptoms appear
If the Household Close Contacts are Critical Workers at a business that is registered on the Close Contact Exemption Scheme they can still come to work if they are vaccinated, free of symptoms and return a negative RAT test each day.
Close contacts no longer need to isolate but should monitor for symptoms for 10 days.
If you are a close contact part way through your isolation you can stop isolating and return to work/return to your normal activities and monitor for symptoms for the remainder of your isolation time
RAT testing will become the predominant testing method and a positive RAT test will not need to be verified by a PCR test. If you return a positive RAT you will need to upload this to your MyCovidRecord or phone 0800 222478.
You should only get tested if you have symptoms or are a Household Close Contact - noone else should be getting tested.
The majority of positive cases will self manage, and will self release at the end of 10 days.
Household contacts will self-release on the same day as the positive case, assuming they have not developed any symptoms AND received a negative day 10 test.
WHAT TO DO IF AN EMPLOYEE TESTS POSITIVE
We have a number of businesses that now have Covid positive employees. While Close Contacts no longer need to isolate, they still need to be identified and told to monitor themselves for symptoms for 10 days. Some of this responsibility falls on the employer to identify and advise Close Contacts in the business. Click here to download the full guide on what to do if an employee tests posiive.FINANCIAL SUPPORT 1. Covid-19 Support Payment (CSP)
On Monday the Government announced a new Covid-19 Support Payment (CSP) for businesses struggling with revenue during the Omicron outbreak. The payment is for businesses who have experienced a 40%+ drop in revenue due to the presence of Covid in the community or the public health measures that have been put in place to reduce the spread. Each payment will be $4000 plus $400 per FTE capped at $24,000 (50 employees).
The initial release was very unclear but the comparator periods were named yesterday and unfortunately they will mean that many businesses will not meet the 40% qualification mark as the period they are using as the 'high' is often low turnover in our industry (5 Jan - 15 Feb). So you would need to have suffered a 40% drop on that. There has been pushback to Treasury to change the comparator period but that has not been confirmed.
To be eligible, the affected revenue period is a continuous 7 day period from 16 February 2022 which must show a drop of 40%+, compared to a typical 7 day period in the 6 weeks from 5 January and 15 February,
There will be three fortnightly payments available. Applications for the first payment open on Monday 28 February. Click here to view the full details
2. Small Business Cashflow Scheme
The Government also announced that the SBCS base loan would be increased to $20,000 (from $10,000). This means the amount that can be borrowed will be $20,000, plus $1,800 per full-time equivalent employee (up to 50 employees). The loan repayment period remains 5 years (60 months).
The first 2 years of existing loans will become interest-free provided the loan is not in default. Interest will apply at a rate of 3% per year on the remaining loan balance from the first day of the third year of the loan period.
3. Short Term Absence Payment
With the increasing use of Rapid Antigen tests there will not be the same need for people to wait at home for tests results. However if someone is instructed to take a PCR test and required to isolate while awaiting the result then you will be able to apply for the short term absence payment which is $359. Click here for details and to apply.
4. Leave Absence Payment
This can be claimed by employers for those employees that are a positive case, or the Household Close Contact of a positive case who have to isolate for at least 4 days. The rate is $600 per week for an employee that works 20+ hours and $359 if they work less than 20 hours. A second claim can be made if the employee is required to isolate for 11 or more days (this will apply in very few cases now as most will be released at 10 days). Click here for details and to apply.
5. Tax Payment
Inland Revenue have been given flexibility to modify some timeframes or procedural requirements for taxpayers who are impacted by Covid 19. More information is available here. THE PRINTING MUSEUM, WELLINGTON
If you can help out our friends at the Museum with the following, please contact Dan Tait-Jamieson on info@theprintingmuseum.org.nz or phone 0274 444599
For sale: Heidelberg Platen GT, 13" x 18". Very good condition with good rollers and excellent registration. Pick up is in Wanganui. Price very negotiable, must be moved soon.
Wanted: Wire binder in reasonable order, ideally with some supplies. (The Museum has large stock of paper which it intends to make up into booklets etc for fundraising.).
