Australian Services Union Western Australia Branch Secretary, Wayne Wood, communicated the following message to members via email today Thursday, 12 March 2020:

With Covid-19 being declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the constantly changing nature of this issue, we would like to provide you with two resources:

• The official WA State Government Pandemic Plan and official information page; and
• Information from the ACTU that may become useful if this virus effects your ability to attend work.

Firstly, the WA State Government’s information is being updated as changes occur and is available on this website: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/coronavirus-covid-19

The first section on the page provides a quick checklist for when a person should be tested, and simple advice for protecting yourself:

• Cover coughs and sneezes 
• Wash hands often
• Stay home if unwell

There are also sub-pages for:

• Latest News
• Facts and FAQs
• WA Government Response
• Community Advice
• Health Professional Advice
• Business and Industry Advice
• Advice for the public sector

Secondly, I have attached the information from the ACTU and encourage you to read through the information provided on pages 6-8 for information on Work Health and Safety Laws and Industrial Relations.

The ACTU, the peak body for Unions in Australia, is calling on the Federal Government to take the necessary steps to ensure all workers, particularly insecure workers, are being provided with the necessary financial support in the event of an outbreak.

I realise that the information available on Covid-19 and infections is constantly being updated, so I wanted to share these information sources with you as I think they provide Western Australians and workers with direct and (in the case of the WA Covid-19 website) updated information, rather than relying on the various sources of online and media information.

I hope both that you find them to be of use during this period, and that you and your families remain safe and well.