BY JARROD MELMETH
Hunter Businesses are being urged to start having conversations with their workforce in preparation for reopening when the state reaches 70 per cent fully vaccinated against COVID.
The state government released its roadmap on Thursday, outlining the freedoms for the fully vaccinated once the state reaches its key milestones.
Under the plans, staff and customers would have to be fully vaccinated to enter venues and would need to prove their vaccination status by signing in via a QR Code.
Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes says he understand there will be some awkward conversations between staff and patrons.
"It will be, unfortunately onerous on businesses, to make sure they are compliant as it is likely the health orders will say in order to enter the premises you are required to be fully vaccinated.
"We don't want businesses exposed to fines and other sanctions as a result of a lack of cooperation or poor behaviour from members of the community.
"We hope the period that we have got from now until we do get to that date in October, that some of these things will be resolved. We do anticipate there will be staff shortages and shuffling of people through the workforce in order to get this right and be compliant.
It's expected the state will reach the 70 per cent double dose vaccinations by mid-October when restrictions will ease across the state.
With the 70 per cent milestone, fully vaccinated people will be able to have visitors in their home, hospitality, retail, beauty and gyms will reopen, weddings and funerals with a limited number of guests can go ahead and domestic travel will resume.
