LOCKDOWN LATEST: PRINTERS STILL PRINTING AS NATION BATTLES DELTA

As cases rise Melbourne and Canberra are extending their lockdowns Covid is hurting the economy. Printers can still print if they are compliant with Covid restrictions, but NSW police now have the power to close down non-compliant businesses.

Print businesses across the locked-down areas are still largely operating, mindful of the conditions imposed on business to stay open.

Melbourneand Canberrra have extended their lockdowns until 2 September, three days after Sydney's is due to end. Melbourne has also reintroduced its curfew. 

Attention is now focused on vaccinations, with printers urged to do all they can to encourage their staff to take the jab. Sydney is promised looser restrictions next month if six million jabs have been given by then, which at the present rate will happen.

For the whole of Australia the next few months will be bumpy, with lockdowns aplenty, until the nationwide 70 per cent figure is reached, which is currently estimated to occur around the end of October andmidde of November.

Printers will then have to deal with the issue of mandatory vaccinations in the workplace, with the government apparently washing its hands of what will be a major issue. Vaccination in the workplace will likely be the biggest issue of 2022, with anti-vaxxers claiming discrimination if they are not allowed into work, while business owners want security of operation without the threat of being closed down for deep cleans, and the larger vaccinated group demand a safe workplace, which does not include the unvaccinated. 

There are strict caveats to continue operating your business in lockdown, which are outlined below. In addition, the NSW police have just been given extra powers to enable them to close down any business they see as not complying. Police commisioner Mick Fuller said: "The focus will be on businesses that are doing the wrong thing."

Health minister Brad Hazzard emphasised the need for business compliance, saying a Covid-safe plan must be implemented and adhered to.

A dozen Sydney LGAs have the army on the streets to ensure compliance, mainly that people who should be isolating at home are doing that. Cases in NSW are heading in the wring direction, with 390 today.

Victoria is in its sixth lockdown, with the premier Dan Andrews waring that if not successful, lockdown may last "until Christmas". Glenn Francis, national communications manager at the country's biggest trade printer CMYKhub said: "We're used to it now, we're fully operational under our Covid-safe plan."

The treasurer increased the maximum weekly payments to businesses to $100,000 a week from $10,000, based on 40 per cent of the payroll if turnover is down by 30 per cent on the same period two years ago, and providing staff levels are maintained. Staff themselves can now claim $750 a week if their hours have been cut by 20 a week or more. If they have been cut by 8-20 hours they can claim $450.

In NSW there are three different sets of restrictions; one for regional NSW, one for metro Sydney and the Hunter, and one for what are now 12 LGAs within the metro area.

Print businesses in the 12 NSW LGAs now in hard lockdown can continue to operate, but must not have any staff from any of the other seven locked down areas working for them.

Print businesses elsewhere in Sydney who have staff residing in one of the 12 areas are not allowed to have them work in the printshop, with one exception - if the staff are engaged in the production of packaging for food and beverages they are exempt, and are free to travel to wherever their workplace is located, and work there.

Essential

Print businesses can continue to manufacture if they consider themselves an essential service. In NSW, premier Gladys Berejiklian has effectively told businesses to decide for themselves if they are essential services, and if they are, then they can stay open.

For all printers, Walter Kuhn, president of the PVCA said: "A company has to decide if the work they are doing is supporting essential activity. Some of that is easy to affirm - the likes of labels for foodstuffs, Covid-safe floor graphics, flyers for medical centres - other items are not as easy to define."

Most printers are operating under the principle that while they may not be essential service providers, they are providing necessary goods and services to essential services providers, and to other parts of the economy still operating. Kellie Northwood, CEO, The Real Media Collective, said: "Printers are able to work as essential service supply chain providers."

Police Powers

As cases continue to rise in Sydney, the premier has given the police increased powers, which includes being able to close down any business they deem to be in non-compliance. Compliance means adhering to the five main caveats listed below. A Perth printer told Print21 that when Perth was in lockkdown two weeks ago, the business was visited by police and told to stop printing unless it was printing Covid related material.

Five Caveats to Print

On the east coast states, there are five main caveats for business continuing to print in lockdown. They include allowing staff who can work from home to do just that. So, admin and sales staff should work from home where possible and not be coming into the workplace. NSW has instigated a $10,000 fine for any business that insists staff come to the office who can reasonably work form home.

In addition, all staff at work need to wear masks at all times. Social distancing needs to be maintained, which includes the 1.5m rule, and there needs to be a maximum one person for every 4sqm inside.

A Covid-safe plan needs to be implemented, communicated, visible to all, and understood by staff, and any visitors need to be registered through the QR code before entry. They also must also wear masks, and preferably be kept outside the building.

Visiting clients in their workplace is a grey area, but the PVCA urges caution in all respects, and in the current climate, few client visits would be happening.

Signs

Sign association Australian Sign & Graphics Association (Asga) advises that in Sydney, sign and display installations should not go ahead, except where they are directly Covid-related.

It says in Victoria, installation can go ahead, both outdoors and indoors, except indoors where the public are allowed, for instance, in supermarkets during opening hours. In that case, the installation should take place after closing time. However, installing Covid signage is allowed at any time. Asga does say these guidelines are its considered view.