Premier Steven Marshall addressed the South Australian public this morning with the latest information on the evolving COVID-19 situation in SA, while unveiling the latest cash grants and Great State vouchers.
It was announced this morning that further business financial support and stimulus packages will be available for South Australians as part of the government’s omicron response plan.
Additional cash grants of up to $22,000 together with more Great State vouchers, and CBD dining out vouchers are key features of the latest State Government funded business support package for hospitality and tourism businesses, gyms and other businesses impacted by restrictions.
Along with the cash grants and Great State voucher announcement, Marshall provided the latest COVID-19 statistics.
In the past 24 hours, there has been a decrease in cases to 1,740 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in SA. Out of the reported cases, 1,329 were confirmed via PCR tests, and 411 were confirmed via the rapid antigen tests (RATs). Today’s confirmed cases are the lowest SA has reported all year.
Hospitalisations decreased slightly to 283 with 29 people in ICU and five of these on ventilators.
The state’s active cases were down to 22,985 and SA’s seven-day average is now below 2,000.
Sadly, there have been five deaths in the past 24 hours. One of these deaths was a person in their 50s, one in their 60s and one in their 80s.
South Australia continued to see another high testing day, with 9,917 PCR tests administered in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, a further 3,661 RATs were collected in SA yesterday.
CASH GRANTS AND GREAT STATE VOUCHERS
The cash grants will be automatically paid to previous recipients of the Tourism, Hospitality and Gym Grant – turnover based payment – December 2021 and the Business Hardship Grant – December 2021, paid from Government, January 2022, bringing the total available from the last two rounds for a business up to $44,000.
For other businesses that meet the turnover decline criteria between 10 January and 30 January 2022 – 30 per cent turnover decline for the Tourism, Hospitality and Gym Grant and those impacted by the 1 person per 7sqm density restrictions, and 50 per cent turnover reduction for all others – the grants will be application based.
Rounds 7 (Accommodation) and 8 (Tours and Experiences) of the Great State voucher scheme are another key element of this businesses support package, and will see 160,000 vouchers up for grabs across accommodation, tours and experiences – equating to more than half of the total number of vouchers issued in the scheme to date.
“Omicron was a game changer, but by working together we have risen to the challenges to ensure SA’s strong economic recovery from the global COVID-19 pandemic continues,” Marshall said.
“As we move through the Omicron peak and the health situation changes, our response must also change, and that is why we are announcing this further significant financial support package for hospitality and tourism businesses and gyms and other businesses impacted by density restrictions, along with measures to boost the CBD.
“There’s no doubt that many businesses in the CBD and beyond have been doing it tough, particularly over the last month.
“This eighth business support package is acknowledgement of those challenges faced by industries disproportionately hit by the pandemic.
“That’s why two further rounds of Great State Vouchers form a key part of this latest business support package – with the largest number of vouchers available for local and interstate travellers supporting our plan to provide demand stimulus to the state’s tourism industry.
“Adelaide is one of the first CBDs in the country to ease work from home arrangements post-Omicron and we had one of the best track records of any state for regional tourism in 2021. This support package is about helping businesses to keep their doors open and creating a spending flow-on across cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs and retail.
Applications are expected to be open from 14 February 2022. Automatic payments should commence by 4 February 2022. Details available at www.treasury.sa.gov.au/Growing-South-Australia/COVID-19
This new business support package, estimated to cost around $50 million and fully funded by the State Government, consists of:
- Further grants of up to $22,000 for eligible* tourism and hospitality businesses, gyms and other businesses impacted by the 1 person per 7 sqm density restrictions**
- Grants available include:
- $6,000 for employing businesses with annual turnover below $2 million***
- $20,000 for employing businesses with annual turnover above $2 million***
- $2,000 for non-employing businesses
- Plus an additional grant of $2,000 for eligible businesses with a commercial premise in the CBD
- Grants will be automatically paid to businesses that received a COVID-19 Tourism, Hospitality and Gym Grant – turnover based payment – December 2021.
- Other tourism and hospitality businesses, gyms and other businesses impacted by the 1 person per 7 sqm density restrictions that experience a reduction in turnover of 30 per cent or more over the period 10 January to 30 January 2022****, can apply for a grant.
- Further grants of up to $8,000 under a Business Hardship Grant for other eligible* businesses
- Grants available include:
- $6,000 for employing businesses
- $2,000 for non-employing businesses
- Plus an additional grant of $2,000 for eligible businesses with a commercial premise in the CBD
- Grants will be automatically paid to businesses that received a COVID-19 Business Hardship Grant- December 2021.
- Other businesses that experience a reduction in turnover of 50 per cent or more over the period 10 January to 30 January 2022****, can apply for a grant.
- Grants available include:
- Extending the existing Major Events Grant to include events scheduled to be held up to 31 March 2022. The major events grant provides up to $100,000 for organisers of major events cancelled or postponed due to density restrictions introduced from 27 December 2021.
- Extending the payroll tax deferral for the remainder of 2021-22 for tourism and hospitality businesses, gyms and other businesses impacted by the 1 person per 7 sqm density restrictions upon application to RevenueSA
- Great State vouchers round 7 ($100 for CBD and $50 for regional accommodation) and round 8 ($200 and $100 vouchers for hosted tours and experiences). 160,000 vouchers will be available across both rounds, supporting accommodation and tourism operators across the State.
- $250,000 for the City of Adelaide / Adelaide Economic Development Agency to at least double the number of $30 vouchers available under the new Welcome Back food voucher promotion in the CBD.
- $1 million for the City of Adelaide to deliver a city-wide activation program ‘Adelaide Unleashed’
- $250,000 for the City of Adelaide to at least double the number of grants on offer under its StreetSide Activation Grant Scheme. The scheme will provide grants of up to $5,000 in value for eligible businesses to activate the area immediately outside its premises in the CBD.
- Free public transport to the CBD from midday Friday to midnight Sunday each week during Festival period (Friday 18 February and finishing on Sunday 20 March).
- $150,000 to the City of Adelaide to expand its existing business advice and support program, provided in conjunction with Business SA. Provides access to the Business Advice Hotline three times a year, and other advisory services (Accounting, Statutory and Compliance Information, Tenants’ Landlord Advisory Service, Mental Health Support Services, Digital Capability Coaching and Grants and Tenders Support).
You may not always receive a call, SMS or email from SA Health.
You must follow the relevant health advice even if you have not been contacted.
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, please seek testing as soon as possible.
For more information on health advice and requirements for households, visit www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVIDcontacttracing.
Find your nearest testing site at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVIDtesting
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