NSW recorded zero new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. There were three new cases in returning overseas travellers, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,062. There have been no new cases of local transmission associated with the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel, following the identification of three cases now known to be genomically linked involving one security guard and two returned travellers. More information here.

A full list of venues and public transport routes attended by this week’s positive COVID-19 case, a security guard in hotel quarantine, is available here. Along with the list of venues and transport routes is advice to anyone who may have also attended them regarding whether they need to immediately get tested and self-isolate, or monitor for symptoms. Close contacts of the security guard, including his household contacts, have all tested negative to date and will continue to self-isolate for 14 days.

As many offices this week mark one year since their employees were sent home to work remotely, the Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS] reports the pandemic-related change is likely to have permanent implications on workplace structures. ABS data shows that since March 2020, Australians are working from home more than they were before the pandemic and expect this pattern to continue.  The latest Household Impacts of COVID-19 Survey conducted from 12-21 February 2021, showed two in five people with a job (41 per cent) worked from home at least once a week in February 2021, compared with 24 per cent at least once a week before March 2020. More details here.

To allow the Law Society of NSW to continue to meet the needs of the profession and develop more diverse services and resources to support our members, our 2021/22 membership fees will revert to the 2019 price of $400 (excl. GST). To ensure membership is as accessible as possible to all NSW practitioners, we have partnered with humm as an alternative payment option for your 2021/22 practising certificate and membership. Humm allows you to pay your fees in easy slices over time. Choose from either five fortnightly or 10 weekly interest-free repayments. To read more and sign up before renewals open on 7 April, visit here.

The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS] shows a continued recovery in the labour market. Figures released today show that in February 2021 employment rose above 13 million people, and was 4,000 people higher than March 2020. Female full-time employment was 1.8 per cent higher than March 2020, while male full-time employment was 0.8 per cent below. Read the ABS findings here.

Adults, graduates and students looking to turbocharge their careers will have access to tailored career advice through the establishment of Careers NSW. The new service was announced by the NSW Government this week and is an Australian first. It is hoped the initiative will drive the NSW COVID-19 recovery by ensuring every worker and student in NSW has access to careers advice regardless of their job, experience or education. More here.

The Australian Government is stepping up its campaign against misinformation on the COVID-19 vaccines, as the vaccination program ramps up. Australians can get all their questions answered on the health website to find out what they want – and need – to know about the COVID-19 vaccines. The new website will provide trusted, credible information on COVID-19 vaccines. Visit the website here.

As of yesterday, drinking while standing up at indoor venues, pubs and clubs across NSW is now allowed. The NSW Government says the continued easing of restrictions is possible because transmission of COVID-19 both in the community and in hotel quarantine remains under control. More details here.