Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Questions and Answers Current: Friday 1 May 2020 - Corangamite Shire
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Questions and Answers Current: Friday 1 May 2020 CORONAVIRUS HOTLINE – 1800 675 398 Call this number if you • have symptoms; • need self-isolation care packages; or • need clarification on social distancing; • have seen a breach to the restrictions. The following information is subject to change at very short notice. The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is the lead response agency in Victoria. The DHHS website is the best place to receive live updates and up-to-date messaging as the situation continues to change www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus 1. What’s the best thing I can do right now to help prevent the spread of coronavirus? 2. How do I practice social distancing? 3. What is the most effective way to disinfect commonly touched surfaces? 4. What are the most common symptoms of coronavirus? 5. Who is most at risk of coronavirus? 6. I am feeling unwell, what should I do? 7. What if I need to self-quarantine? 8. What if I am sharing a house with someone who is in self-quarantine? 9. I am a local business owner, should I close my business? 10. Where can or can’t I go shopping? 11. What other businesses are closed? 12. What about outdoor activities? 13. What is the ‘four square metre’ rule? 14.What type of gatherings are exempt from the two person maximum? 15. Will public transport continue to operate? 16. Can delivery or tradespeople come into my home? 17. Can I get someone to look after my children at home? 18. Do all food and drink businesses have to close? 19. Can I visit somebody in aged care? 20. What are the penalties for not complying with these orders? 21. What is the best way to get in touch with Council? 22. Will Council meetings go ahead? 23. How can I pay my Council bill? 24. What Council services have been affected by the virus? 25. My business has been affected. What support is available? 26. My tenant is having difficulty paying rent. What can I do? 27. Where can I get help?
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Questions and Answers Current: 17 April 2020 1. What’s the best thing I can do right now to help prevent the spread of coronavirus? The best way to slow the spread of viruses, such as coronavirus, is social distancing (also called physical distancing). This will help “flatten the curve” which means reducing the speed at which new people are infected. By slowing the spread of the virus, hospitals will be able to treat patients without their limited resources being overwhelmed. If there are too many cases, more people will die. Stay at home. Don’t visit friends or family. You should only be outside for one of four reasons: • shopping for what you need - food and essential supplies • medical, care or compassionate needs • exercise in compliance with the public gathering requirements • work and study if you can’t work or learn remotely Do not travel anywhere unless absolutely necessary. If you must go out, keep at least 1.5 metres, or two arm lengths away from anybody else. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, or using the toilet. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitiser that is at least 60 percent alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow. Do not share drink bottles, crockery or cutlery. Stop shaking hands, hugging or kissing as a greeting. Get vaccinated for flu (influenza). This will help reduce the strain on the healthcare system as it deals with coronavirus. Vaccines are now available from your GP and pharmacy. 2. How do I practice social distancing? At home Keep visitors to a minimum. Regularly disinfect surfaces that are touched a lot, such as tables, kitchen benches, hand rails and doorknobs. Increase ventilation by opening windows or adjusting air-conditioning. At work Don’t shake hands. Hold meetings via video conferencing or phone call, not face to face. Hold essential meetings outside in the open air if possible. Promote good hand, sneeze and cough hygiene. Provide alcohol-based hand rub for all staff.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Questions and Answers Current: 17 April 2020 Eat lunch at your desk or outside rather than in the lunch room. Regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces regularly e.g. phones, keyboards, door handles, light switches, bench tops. Open windows or adjust air conditioning for more ventilation. Limit food handling and sharing of food in the workplace. Avoid non-essential travel. Promote strict hygiene among food preparation (canteen) staff and their close contacts. 3. What is the most effective way to disinfect commonly touched surfaces? Removal of germs such as coronavirus requires thorough cleaning, then disinfection. Clean frequently touched surfaces with detergent solution. Clean general surfaces and fittings when visibly soiled and immediately after any spillage. The disinfectant used should be one for which the manufacturer claims antiviral activity, such as chlorine-based disinfectants. Gloves and protective eye wear should be worn when handling and preparing bleach solutions. Use freshly made bleach solution, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Wipe the area with bleach solution using disposable paper towels or a disposable cloth. Dispose of gloves and mask in a leak proof plastic bag. Wash hands well using soap and water and dry with disposable paper or single-use cloth towel. If water is unavailable, clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub. For detailed guidelines, go to www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/03/ environmental-cleaning-and-disinfection-principles-for-covid-19.pdf 4. What are the most common symptoms of coronavirus? • Fever • Headache • Breathing difficulties, breathlessness • Muscle pains • Cough • Runny or stuffy nose, loss of smell, • Sore throat • Nausea, vomiting • Fatigue or tiredness • Diarrhoea Many people who contract coronavirus will suffer only mild symptoms. Elderly people and those with pre-existing medical conditions may experience more severe symptoms. 5. Who is most at risk of coronavirus? There are three groups in the community who are most at risk. • Overseas travellers and close contacts • Elderly or have pre-existing medical conditions • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Questions and Answers Current: 17 April 2020 6. I am feeling unwell, what should I do? If you develop a fever or shortness of breath, a cough or respiratory illness, or other symptons during your period of isolation (self-quarantine), or in the 14 days since arriving home from international travel, you should seek immediate medical attention. Call ahead to your GP or emergency department and mention your overseas travel before you arrive at the doctor’s office so they can prepare appropriate infection control measures. If you have serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, call 000, ask for an ambulance and tell the operator your recent travel history. Patients who have symptoms compatible with coronavirus may present to the assessment centre at Robinson Street Medical Centre (5593 7070) and Scott Street Medical Clinic (5593 1222) in Camperdown or South West Healthcare Warrnambool (5563 1666). Call ahead first. 7. What if I need to self-quarantine? • you must not attend work, school, childcare or university • you must not go to other public places such as restaurants, cinemas or shopping centres • you must not use public transport or taxis • you must not allow visitors into your home - only those who usually live in the household • you must stay in a different room to other people as much as possible. If you have no family or friends to bring you food or essential supplies, you may be eligible for emergency relief packages under a State Government program. This is a last resort. Each household that meets the criteria will receive a two-week supply of essential goods. Call the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398. 8. What if I am sharing a house with someone who is in self-quarantine? There are different reasons for people to be in self-quarantine, and so if you are sharing a house with someone in this situation, the obligations on you will differ: • If the person is well but has come into close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus If the person you live with is in self-quarantine as a precaution and follows all the required steps for self-quarantine, nobody else in the house is required to self-quarantine. • If the person is well but has a suspected case of coronavirus If the person you live with is in self-quarantine because it is suspected they may have coronavirus, there is no need for others in the house to self-quarantine unless the person becomes a confirmed case. At that point, all people in the household must self-quarantine. • If the person is unwell and has a confirmed case of coronavirus If the person you live with is in isolation because it is suspected they may have contracted coronavirus, there is no need for others in the house to self-quarantine unless the case is confirmed. At that point, all people in the household are required to self-quarantine.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Questions and Answers Current: 17 April 2020 9. I am a local business owner, should I close my business? Business owners should follow the latest information released by the State and Federal governments www.business.vic.gov.au For all businesses not subject to restricted trading, it is recommended that the DHHS Actions for organisations, workplaces and employers are followed to reduce the risk of transmission of coronavirus. Council is committed to supporting local business. If you need help navigating the resources, support and information available at this time, contact our Economic Development team on 5593 7100 or email ecodev@corangamite.vic.gov.au 10. Where can or can’t I go shopping? You can still go to the supermarket, bank, pharmacy, petrol stations, and other essential stores. The following businesses are restricted from opening: • Pubs, bars, nightclubs, registered and licensed clubs (excluding bottle shops), hotels (excluding accommodation) • Restaurants and cafes will be restricted to takeaway and/or home delivery • Food courts within shopping centres (takeaway only). • accommodation facilities like camping grounds and caravan parks 11. What other businesses are closed? • Gyms and indoor sporting venues • Cinemas, entertainment venues, casinos, and night clubs • Community and recreation centres, health clubs, fitness centres, yoga, barre, spin facilities, saunas, wellness centres • Galleries, museums, historic sites, libraries, community centres and youth centres • Community facilities (halls, clubs, RSLs, PCYCs); • Auction houses • Real estate auctions and open house inspections • In-store beauty therapy, tanning, waxing, nail salons and tattoo parlours, spa and massage parlours (excluding allied-health-related services, like physiotherapy) • Hairdressers and barber shops can continue, but a customer must not be on the premises longer than 30 minutes • Personal training and boot camps are limited to a maximum of two people • Indoor play centres • Amusement arcades
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Questions and Answers Current: 17 April 2020 12. What about outdoor activities? The government has closed • Outdoor sporting venues including mini-golf centres, paintball, go-karts, rifle ranges, equestrian centres, public playgrounds, skate parks, communal outdoor gyms • Amusement parks and outdoor play centres • Public swimming pools • Animal facilities including zoos, wildlife centres, petting zoos, aquariums, animal farms not producing food, facilities that care for sick, abandoned or injured animals. • recreational fishing including boat ramps and national parks www.parks.vic.gov.au 13. What is the ‘four square metre’ rule? To ensure 1.5 metres between people on either side, in front and behind, there must be no more that one person per four square metres of floor space in any exempt gathering. To limit the number of people in a retail premises at one time, operators must allow entry to no more than one person for every four square metres of available floor space in their shop (including staff). They must put signs at entrances indicating the maximum, and clean frequently touched surfaces at least twice a day with a disinfectant that meets DHHS requirements. 14.What type of gatherings are exempt from the two person maximum? • airports • public transport, including vehicles, stations, platforms and stops • medical, health service, disability and aged care facilities • emergency services facilities • prisons, correctional facilities, youth justice centres or other place of custody • courts and tribunals • Parliament • food markets, supermarkets, grocery stores, retail stores and shopping centres • office buildings, factories and construction sites • schools, universities, educational institutions or childcare facilities – except for activities deemed not necessary for the normal business of the facility. Events such as assemblies, parent-teacher evenings and sports events should not take place. • Religious gatherings in places of worship are restricted to very small groups under the four square metres rule. Services and ceremonies can be recorded or broadcast live. Only essential people may attend and must maintain physical distancing. For weddings, only the couple, celebrant and two witnesses may attend. For funerals, no more than 10 mourners. Anzac Day ceremonies and events will be cancelled due to the high proportion of older Australians who attend such events and the increased risk they face. There should be no marches. A small ceremony involving officials at a state level may be streamed/filmed.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Questions and Answers Current: 17 April 2020 15. Will public transport continue to operate? Public transport is still available for people who need to be out for one of the permitted reasons. Ensure physical distancing. 16. Can delivery or tradespeople come into my home? You shouldn’t let anyone outside your immediate household group come into your home, unless you really need help that can only be delivered in person. Ensure physical distancing at all times. 17. Can I get someone to look after my children at home? In-home child minding is permitted if you need it to be out for one of the permitted reasons. 18. Do all food and drink businesses have to close? A food and drink business can only remain open if it offers takeaway or delivery services. Exceptions include hospitals, residential aged care facilities, schools, prisons, youth justice facilities, defence force bases, services for the homeless, and truck-stops, ensuring the four square metre rule is observed. 19. Can I visit somebody in aged care? All visitors must be screened before they enter an aged care facility. Visits are limited to a maximum of two hours per day with up to two visitors. Anyone under 16 will not be able to visit, unless it is for end of life support. Visitors must not enter or remain on the premises of a residential aged care facility in Victoria if they: • have been overseas or in contact with a confirmed case in the past 14 days; • have a temperature higher than 37.5 degrees or symptoms of acute respiratory infection; or • do not have an up-to-date flu vaccination. 20. What are the penalties for not complying with these orders? A person who fails to comply with these directions will be liable for fines of up to $20,000, or up to $100,000 in the case of companies and other bodies corporate. 21. What is the best way to get in touch with Council? If you need to get in touch with Council we encourage you to contact us via phone 5593 7100 or email shire@corangamite.vic.gov.au The Civic Centre in Camperdown is closed to the public, but our customer service staff are happy to take your call or reply to your email. 22. Will Council meetings go ahead? Ordinary Council meetings will be held as scheduled, however public attendance is discouraged. Council will live stream these meetings via the Corangamite Shire Facebook page. 26. How can I pay my Council bill? If you usually come into the Civic Centre, please call us on 5593 7100 and we can help.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Questions and Answers Current: 17 April 2020 25. What Council services have been affected by the virus? • At the moment, kindergarten, mobile child care, family day care, and aged care services will continue to operate until advised otherwise by State and Federal authorities. • The Corangamite Regional Landfill (Naroghid), transfer stations and waste services are operating as normal. • Libraries, stadiums, and the Theatre Royal complex are closed until further notice • All of Council’s recreation, arts & culture, and youth programs have been cancelled. This includes the Health & Wellbeing Expo, Ed Gym, Youth Week, School holiday program, and Microchip Week. 23. My business has been affected. What support is available? Federal Government support: JobKeeper Payment: $1500 per fortnight to support employers and employees to retain jobs. Enhanced instant asset write-off: A business with turnover of less than $500 million can claim the instant asset write-off on assets costing less than $150,000. Boosting cash flow for employers: Through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), the Government will provide tax-free cash flow boosts of between $20,000 and $100,000 to eligible businesses, delivered through credits in the activity statement system, when eligible businesses lodge their activity statements. Supporting apprentices and trainees: A subsidy of 50 per cent of apprentice’s or trainee’s wage for nine months. Small Medium Enterprise Guarantee Scheme: 50% guarantee to SME lenders to support new short-term unsecured loans to SMEs. Temporary relief for financially distressed businesses: Temporary increase to threshold at which creditors can issue a statutory demand on a company. Backing Business Investment: Businesses with a turnover of less than $500 million can deduct 50 per cent of the cost of an eligible asset on installation. For more information, visit www.business.gov.au All taxpayers affected by the coronavirus outbreak can contact the ATO for assistance. Taxpayers can contact the ATO on 1800 806 218 or visit www.ato.gov.au State Government support: Businesses can call the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15 or visit www.business.vic.gov.au/ Payroll Tax Refund: Businesses with annual Victorian taxable wages up to $3 million will have their payroll tax for the 2019-20 financial year waived. Liquor license fees waived: The Victorian Government will waive liquor licensing fees for 2020 for affected venues and small businesses. Land tax deferral: Land owners with at least one non-residential property and total taxable landholdings below $1 million can defer their 2020 land tax payment until after 31 December 2020. Visit the State Revenue Office Victoria at www.sro.vic.gov.au for more information.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Questions and Answers Current: 17 April 2020 Business Support Fund: Grants of $10,000 for small to medium businesses are available. For more information go to www.business.vic.gov.au/. Working for Victoria Fund: Eligible workers who have lost their jobs can apply for new roles or take up training for specific roles. Employers looking for workers can find experienced and screened staff who are ready to work. For more information go to www.vic.gov.au/workingforvictoria Rural Financial Counselling Service: Call 1300 735 578 or visit www.wswrcs.com.au to make an appointment for free and confidential small businesses financial counselling. RFCS provides one on one ongoing support, helping prepare budgets and cash flows as well as assisting with negotiation with suppliers and financial institutions. 24. My tenant is having difficulty paying rent. What can I do? The Victorian Small Business Commission has information to help small business owners, landlords and agents when the tenant is having difficulty in paying rent. The content includes steps to can take now, and how the Victorian Small Business Commission’s mediation service might be able to help resolve lease disputes. For more Information, visit www.vsbc.vic.gov.au/ 27. Where can I get help? As the current circumstances can be distressing, please be aware of your own emotions and those of people around you. If you need support, contact one of these services: Mental Health Services ........ 1800 808 284 Lifeline.................................. 13 11 14 South West Healthcare........ 5593 6000 Kid’s Helpline........................ 1800 551 800 Colac Area Health................. 5232 5100 Mensline............................... 1300 789 978 Headspace............................ 1300 276 749 Nurse on Call........................ 1800 022 222 beyondblue........................... 1300 224 636 www.blackdoginstitute.org.au www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/mental-health-resources-coronavirus-covid-19 Directline: It can be tempting to use alcohol or drugs in times of stress, or if you’re just bored in self-isolation. Are you hitting the bottle to much? You can do a self-assessment online or call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for free and confidential support. Phone: 1800 888 236........... Website: www.directline.org.au 1800RESPECT: If you are experiencing, or at risk of sexual assault, domestic or family violence, this is a confidential service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Phone: 1800 737 732........... Website: www.1800respect.org.au/ If you are at immediate risk of physical harm, call 000. Bethany (Warrnambool): Bethany supports victims of family violence and change perpetrator behaviour, people experiencing financial stress, those effected by problem gambling and other addictions, and more.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Questions and Answers Current: 17 April 2020 Phone: 1300 510 439........... Email: info@bethany.org.au.........Website: www.bethany.org.au Colac Area Health Family Support Service: The Family Support Service is available to families with children aged 0-18 years. Phone: 5232 5140 or 5232 5180............. Website: www.cah.vic.gov.au Gamblers Help: Free and confidential support, 24/7. Phone: 1800 858 858.......... Website: www.gamblershelp.com.au
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