In brief - With hourly updates on infection rates and
with limited consistent advice about the epidemic, it can be hard
to know how employers should respond. This article provides
information for the education, health services and aged care,
transport, and construction and mining industries, and the
obligations employers have to employees, including leave and stand
downs, legislative requirements and business continuity
planning.
What we know about COVID-19
In the general population COVID-19 presents as a minor illness.
The most concern should be held for people who don't have
access to good medical care, those over 70 years of age and those
with underlying illness or disease (particularly respiratory
illness or heart disease ('high risk groups')). People who
are working in front line medical roles, in aged care, disability
& community services and education might also be at higher risk
of repeated exposure.
