The government of Australia's state of New South Wales (NSW) announced on Tuesday a stimulus package for businesses affected by COVID-19 lockdown.
From 6:00 pm Saturday, Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, and Wollongong entered a two-week lockdown until July 9 in response to a growing outbreak of the highly virulent Delta strain of COVID-19.
In response to the restrictions, grants of up to 10,000 Australian dollars (about 7,600 US dollars) will be offered to keep small businesses afloat, helping them keep paying their rent and workers.
"This latest outbreak has coincided with school holidays when a lot of regional areas were counting on more visitors to help boost local economies," said NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro on Tuesday.
"These grants will help many get through the winter, and just like after the bushfires, the floods, and the first wave of COVID-19, the regions will lead NSW out the other side."
NSW recorded 19 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8:00 pm Monday, bringing the total locally acquired cases reported since June 16 to 149.
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