Just as Victorians were beginning to enjoy the freedoms we have missed, the State has been plunged into its sixth COVID-19 related lockdown.
The State Government this afternoon announced that from 8pm tonight (Thursday, 5 August), for seven days until 8pm on Thursday, 12 August, there will only be five permitted reasons to leave home: to get food and supplies, for exercise for up to two hours and no more than 5kms from your home, for care or caregiving, work or education if you can’t do it from home or to get vaccinated at the nearest possible location.
Construction and manufacturing will remain operational. Hospitality venues will only be able to offer delivery and takeaway. Beauty and personal services, entertainment, tourism, events and cultural venues will close and community sport will be cancelled. The Victorian Chamber will work with the State and Federal Governments on business support, as we have previously, and we stand ready to help any business affected by the shutdowns.
The State Government indicated that further announcements on business support will be made tomorrow.
To be attributed to Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Paul Guerra:
“This latest lockdown will commence exactly three weeks after Lockdown Five started and that came hot on the heels of Lockdown Four. The 8pm start, with three hours’ notice, doesn’t give any business enough time to plan nor does it recognise the huge impost this will be on operators and workers.
“National Cabinet has endorsed these short and sharp lockdowns but that doesn’t make it any easier today on businesses and workers. Following strong advocacy throughout Lockdown Five, the joint Federal and State National Support Package should provide the basis for ongoing assistance, and we are working with governments on this.
“The business community is focused on getting vaccination rates up to the levels we need to avoid lockdowns and restrictions as quickly as possible and stands ready to assist in any way we can. We can’t keep shutting and disrupting business and expect them to all survive.”
