10 things you need to know this morning in Australia

Hello folks! Our readers in New South Wales will be pleased to know you'll be allowed to visit friends from Friday. Sadly, still no pub.

New South Wales slides and Tasmania surges as state economies reshuffle during the business shutdown, according to a new CBA assessment

Victoria and Tasmania have tied first in the Commonwealth Bank's assessment of the state economies. It's the first time Tasmania has taken out the top rank in 11 years, with the coronavirus affecting each state differently.

The owner of The Athlete's Foot and Platypus has turned its retail locations into 'dark stores' to fulfil a surge in online sales demand

Accent Group, the owner of companies including The Athlete's Foot, Hype DC and Platypus, has seen a massive rise in online sales during the coronavirus pandemic.

Zip co-founder Peter Gray says he expects smaller buy now, pay later companies will bite the dust amid the coronavirus shutdowns

The coming downturn will see some buy now pay later companies not make it, predicts Zip co-founder Peter Gray. Gray told Business Insider Australia that smaller companies with little differentiation to their main competitor Afterpay wouldn't have the fundamentals to see out the storm.

Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory are starting to lift some coronavirus-related restrictions

Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory have announced they will start to ease some coronavirus restrictions. Queensland is allowing residents to shop for non-essential items while Western Australia is letting up to 10 people attend weddings.

More than 1.3 million Australians have already downloaded the government's COVID-19 tracing app

The federal government's COVIDsafe app has been downloaded by more than 1.33 million Australians in just 12 hours. The tracing app is intended to be used by health departments to identify those who have come into contact with a confirmed coronavirus case.

Business and medical groups are set to lead the charge to encourage Australians to download the government's new coronavirus tracing app

Business and medical groups have urged Australians to download the Morrison government's new COVIDSafe app, saying it would help chart a path back to economic recovery.

11 major companies that have returned millions of dollars acquired through a government relief program meant for small businesses

The $US349 billion Paycheck Protection Program launched in early April was meant to bolster struggling small businesses. It was aimed at providing businesses with fewer than 500 employees with two-year, low-interest loans to cover salaries, wages, benefits, and certain taxes. The program would provide up to $US10 million per company.

Hundreds of yachts are crowding the waters around the US Virgin Islands as other Caribbean islands close their ports, and it's creating a trash problem on top of coronavirus fears

The US Virgin Islands are dealing with an influx of yachters who haven't been able to dock in other Caribbean islands. As The New York Times' Emily Palmer reported, the territory typically has about 270 boats that dock each year. That number has recently swelled to as many as 600 boats at once.

If you're struggling to find a decent working space at home, here are a few changes you can make to boost productivity

At a time when countless Australians have been ordered to work where they reside and in close proximity to one another - be it housemates, family members, or partners - the need for space has become a high priority, which can prove to be difficult in a cluttered house full of people and unnecessary objects.

Unsubscribe • Email to a Friend • Privacy Policy

Business Outsider