Return to Offices to Fire up NSW Economy

Return to Offices to Fire up NSW Economy
The Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia, Feb. 20, 2007. (Ian Waldie/Getty Images)
AAP
By AAP
10/4/2020
Updated:
10/5/2020

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian wants public servants back to work in the city as the government looks to fire up the COVID-19 disrupted economy.

The state on Oct. 4 recorded its ninth consecutive day without any community transmission of the virus.

Two cases in returned overseas travellers in hotel quarantine were diagnosed in the 24 hours to 8 p.m. on Oct. 3 night, bringing the state’s total number of cases to 4045.

The premier said NSW’s public sector workers would be urged to return to offices in coming weeks in a move considered to be a significant step in the virus recovery.

“The health and safety of the people of NSW has always been our number one priority, however we are also focused on firing up the economy,” she said.

“We are now encouraging public servants to physically return to work in their offices in a COVID-safe way, which will help stimulate city-based businesses and create more jobs across the state.”

Managers will be encouraged to use flexible rostering and workers are asked to avoid using public transport during peak periods whenever possible.

The border between Queensland and NSW is set to reopen on November 1 provided NSW has no mystery cases of COVID-19 in the preceding 28 days.

But the recent low virus transmission rate could be at risk after almost 50 people shared a flight to Sydney with an infected Victorian traveller.

The potentially infectious passenger travelled on Jetstar JQ510, which left Melbourne at 11 a.m. last Sunday and tested positive on their second day in quarantine.