Some small businesses could be wiped out without immediate government help due to the Omicron outbreak, industry figures say, with hairdressers reporting up to 60% staff absenteeism.
The chief executive of the Australian Hairdressing Council, Sandy Chong, said seven of the 13 staff at her salon in the New South Wales city of Newcastle had recently tested positive for the virus, swelling sick leave payments at a time when wary clients were staying away.
