NSW recorded one new locally acquired case of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. This is a case acquired in Byron Bay and announced yesterday. There were four new cases in returning overseas travellers, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,107. There were 20,459 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 17,393. More information here.

While urgent investigations and contact tracing continue into the local case and the cases who visited Byron Bay from Queensland while infectious, NSW Health is adopting a cautious approach to minimise the risk of further transmission. The following rules apply to the local government areas of Tweed Shire Council, Ballina Shire Council, Byron Shire Council and Lismore City Council from now until 11.59pm on Monday 5 April: masks must be worn on public transport, in retail stores, and in all public indoor settings; the one person per 4 square metre rule applies at all public indoor settings including hospitality venues; and the number of household visitors is capped at 30, including at holiday rental properties. The list of venues attended by a COVID-19 case, and instructions for anyone else who visited them, is available here.

Queensland has recorded just one new locally acquired case of COVID-19 and has lifted the lockdown in Greater Brisbane as of midday today (1 April). NSW has been mirroring the Queensland Health restrictions for anyone in NSW who has been to Greater Brisbane since 20 March, and these people will also no longer be required to stay at home as of 1pm today (1 April). More information on Queensland’s COVID developments and ongoing restrictions here.

On 7 April 2021 all solicitors will receive an email containing information on how to renew their practising certificate and Law Society membership, and a link to access their online application. Read more here.

Given the significant reduction in restrictions by government, the Chief Magistrate of the Local Court has rescinded all previous COVID-19 memoranda and replaced them with the attached memorandum effective from Monday 29 March 2021. More here.

The Federal Department of Health has released a new video responding to the latest top questions about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. At the top of minds the past few weeks:

1. Why are we starting phase 1B of the rollout when not everyone from Phase 1a has been vaccinated?
2. How can I avoid misinformation about COVID-19?
3. Can I address other health matters with my GP when I get my free COVID-19 vaccine?.

Watch the video here.

ASIC published information this week to assist SMEs with business interruption insurance claims resulting from the pandemic. This includes advice about checking insurance cover, what the outcome of test cases currently before Australian courts should clarify, and what businesses will need to prove a claim for COVID-19 related losses. Read more here.

As mentioned in last week’s update, ASIC has adopted a ‘no-action’ position in relation to the convening and holding of virtual meetings. This position is a temporary measure. In order to provide the market with a degree of certainty during this time, ASIC’s ‘no-action’ position supports the holding of meetings using appropriate technology, facilitates electronic notice of meetings including supplementary notices and allows more public companies an additional two months to hold their AGMs. More details on the guidelines and an update on modifications to the Corporations Act 2001 to facilitate the convening and holding of meetings using virtual technology available here. 

In the year to 13 March 2021, total payroll jobs rose 0.2 per cent, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) this week. The ABS has weekly payroll jobs data for a full year of the pandemic, which present a week by week picture of labour market impacts and recovery. More details here.