Australia begins to ease restrictions on non-essential movement as COVID-19 spread slows.
MEASURES
- State Governments have set up COVID-19 test centres and are encouraging residents to undergo tests regardless of whether they exhibit symptoms.
- Australia has developed a coronavirus contact tracing app modelled after Singapore’s TraceTogether. To further ease up on the nationwide lockdown, there must be a minimum 40% usage rate of the app across the country (current rate: est. 10%).
- Australian states have started to relax some restrictions non-essential movement; NSW has re-opened their beaches to local residents and are permitting conditional home visits, while NT has detailed a roadmap to lifting restrictions. Commencing on 15 May, Stage 2 of this roadmap will allow restaurants, cafes, clubs and bars to re-open.
IMPACT ON FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN
- The volatility of domestic demand is improving.
- However, the cost of air and sea freight has increased by 20%. The current air freight assistance programme is focused on agri-business and import of medical supplies, and the Australian Food and Grocery Council continues to work with the Government to explore how this may be expanded to support the F&B sector.
- Beverage packaging: There is still difficulty in securing recycled PET as packaging material as well as maintaining or upgrading bottling equipments.