Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: The short-term absence payment and the COVID-19 leave support scheme remain in place for the businesses and workers at whatever level New Zealand is at. The extension of the alert level in the Wellington region to alert level 2 has meant that eligible businesses nationwide can now take up the resurgence support payment. In order to qualify for the payment, businesses must show a 30 percent drop in revenue over a seven-day period. The payment includes a core per-business rate of $1,500, plus $400 per employee, up to a total of 50 full-time equivalents. That is a maximum payment of $21,500. Sole traders can receive a payment of up to $1,900. Businesses will be able to apply for this resurgence support payment from 8 a.m. this Thursday via the Inland Revenue website. 