Victoria squashes Delta and gives business the green light
The Victorian Chamber welcomes today’s news that most Victorian businesses will be able to reopen from tomorrow, 28 July, but will continue to advocate for a shift back to pre-lockdown restrictions.
The easing of restrictions announced today will apply to both Regional and Metropolitan Victoria and are scheduled to be reviewed again in two weeks. These include removing the 5km travel rule and offices welcoming back 25 per cent of staff or 10 people, whichever is greater.
Masks will still be required to be worn indoors and outdoors, hospitality can reopen for dine-in with a density limit of one person per four square metres to a cap of 100 people. Retail, gyms, accommodation and indoor entertainment venues can open with density limits, along with hairdressers, beauty and personal services where masks can come off if required for a service to be performed.
Private gatherings are still not permitted. However, Victorians will be able to gather in public in groups of up to 10. The State Government has said that events will not be permitted at this stage with further announcements to come.
Businesses have been in lockdown or heavy restrictions for more than half of the past 12 months and we acknowledge and commend the support provided thus far from both the State and Federal Governments. The Victorian Chamber expects that this support will continue via an expanded support package that sees further financial assistance available to enable Victoria’s businesses to restart and rebuild.
To be attributed to Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Paul Guerra:
“Victorians have for the second time quashed an outbreak and run down the Delta variant with businesses making enormous sacrifices for the health of our community.
“Today’s announcement is a great step out of lockdown and the Victorian Chamber is pleased that we are moving out of Lockdown Five faster than we did from Lockdown Four, particularly with the higher caps in hospitality, masks being able to come off for beauty treatments, and gyms and community sport open which is so important for Victorians’ mental and physical health.
“Business is battered and bruised. Financial reserves are gone; emotional reserves are gone. We need to see some further financial support coming from the State and Federal Governments to enable businesses to restart: restock, pay the rent, pay wages and get going again.
“Events will have to wait longer which is another reason why that support package will be integral to Victoria’s restart. As the case numbers drop, we need to see all restrictions removed quickly to enable every business in the State to recover as soon as they can.”
