As positive cases of the infectious COVID-19 virus rapidly rises in Australia, the Australian Government continues to implement the latest measures to slow down the spread of infection.

On 24 March 2020, the Prime Minister announced a ban on Australians travelling overseas under the Biosecurity Act 2015. This is on top of the standing advice to not travel overseas. It is effective from midday on Wednesday 25 March 2020. This will help prevent travellers returning to Australia with coronavirus.

Exemptions will apply to a range of travellers and include:

for citizens who normally live overseas

where travel is essential or necessary

where travel is in our national interest, and

on compassionate and humanitarian ground.

Everyone should practise good hygiene by:

Washing your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use alcohol-based hand sanitiser

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and dispose of it straight away; wash your hands afterwards.

Cough or sneeze into your (flexed) elbow and away from other people.

Avoid touching your face and mouth while out in public.

Do not shake hands, kiss or hug people outside your immediate family.

Social distancing includes:

ensuring a 1 person per 4 square metre space

avoiding gatherings, large and small

not visiting vulnerable people, such as those in aged-care facilities or hospitals, babies or people with weakened immune systems

We are currently at stage 2 of the Australian coronavirus shutdown phase as the Government places restrictions on which places are to close and which are allowed to remain open.

Cafes/Restaurants and Food Courts are allowed to remain open with no option to dine in, but takeaway and delivery service allowed

Auction houses are to close, with private appointment inspections allowed for real estate house inspections only, indoor and outdoor markets are to close with the exception of food markets which can continue to operate.

Hairdressers and barbershops can remain open with up to 30 minute appointments with the 1 person per 4 square metre rule applying to premises.

Beauty therapy, tanning, waxing, nail salons, tattoo parlours, spas and massage parlours and any other personal care service where there is close contact for a prolonged period of time are to close, with the exception of physiotherapy and podiatry.

All entertainment venues are to close including: cinemas, nightclubs, casinos, gaming or gambling venues, strip clubs, brothels and sex on premises venues, concert venues, theatre, arenas, auditoriums, stadiums, amusement parks and arcades, indoor and outdoor play centres

All leisure and recreation sites are to close including: health clubs, fitness centres, yoga, barre and spin facilities, saunas, bathhouses and wellness centres, social sporting-based activities and swimming pools. Boot camps, personal training can only continue if outdoor and is limited to groups of no more than 10 people and the 1 person per 4 square metre rule must be adhered to.

Community and recreation centres are allowed to remain open for the purpose of hosting essential voluntary or public services, such as food banks or homeless services.

Caravan and camping parks must close except where the accommodation is for the purposes of respite, for victims of family violence, other vulnerable groups or for care purposes, and except where people live there permanently or as an interim abode where the primary residence is not available.

Non-residential institutions must close including: zoos, petting zoos, aquariums and wildlife parks, (except for the maintenance, care or rescue of animals), museums, national institutions, historic sites, galleries, libraries, toy libraries, community centres, pools, youth centres and community facilities (such as community halls, clubs, RSLs, PCYCs). Community facilities may remain open for the purposes of hosting essential voluntary or public services, such as food banks or homeless services.

All places of worship must close, except for the conduct of weddings and funerals in accordance with the following guidelines:
-Weddings may be held in places of worship (or other venues), but only with the couple, celebrant and maximum of two witnesses in attendance
-Funerals may be held in places of worship, funeral parlours or other venues, with a maximum of ten mourners in attendance.

At stage 2 of the restrictions, we have seen the devasting impact it has had on businesses, many of which have had to cut down on staff or close altogether. Many Australians have been left jobless, cashless, evicted from their homes, and wondering how they will make ends meet in the next days, weeks, months to come. Lines of Aussies snaking the streets around Centrelink, the myGov website failing to cope with the influx of activity relating to Centrelink, telecommunication and internet providers lines having bottleneck issues as they fail to cope with the number of people relying on their services. It is with great sadness as we come to terms with how our community, how us Aussies are doing it tough during this time. But chin up, let's remember to support each other where we can. This time will pass, we'll band together as a community, as Australians and be stronger than ever as we rise up on the other side.

Please rest assured that Tomax have already put in place provisions for business continuation in the event that the government calls for businesses to have their employees work from home. In the best interest of the safety of our employees, this week we have been working with a skeleton staff of 6-7 employees in the office, with the rest of our staff working from home. You can rest assured that Tomax will be able to provide required logistics services without interruption.