Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Phase 3 Pragmatic Move For Hospitality
A move to Phase 3 of the Government’s Omicron response would be good news for the hospitality industry, as it will allow staff to keep working, and customers enjoy getting out.
Hospitality NZ CEO Julie White says pressure is on for the shift, as the definition of a close contact and a week-long isolation period is keeping mounting numbers of staff and customers unnecessarily at home.
“The rules are having a devastating multiplier effect, turning the thousands of people with Covid into tens of thousands of well or asymptomatic people stuck at home.
“The rules are unsustainable with rapid spread of Omicron because they are making up to 100% of staff ineligible to work and exacerbating already low numbers of staff.”
The sector had very recently been allowed to work out its own definitions of close contacts on a case by case basis.
Julie White says while a Phase shift is welcome, it is only one of the tools for recovery. Another tool is financial support to get through the Omicron wave, and the narrow eligibility of the package announced on Monday still needs to be fixed.
“After our urgent objections, we are now cautiously optimistic that the Government did not intend to restrict the eligibility so tightly and will fix it by the time applications open this Monday,” she says.
Business Canterbury: Urges Council To Cut Costs, Not Ambition For City
Wellington Airport: On Track For Net Zero Emissions By 2028
Landcare Research: ANZAC Gall Fly Release Promises Natural Solution To Weed Threat
NZ Anti-Vivisection Society: Auckland Rat Lovers Unite!
University of Canterbury: $1.35 Million Grant To Study Lion-like Jumping Spiders
Federated Farmers: Government Ends War On Farming
