Goya Dmytryshchak
Victoria is “well-placed” to end its snap five-day lockdown tomorrow, Premier Daniel Andrews announced today.
Two new cases of COVID-19 were recorded, with the state government announcing it was exploring alternatives to hotel quarantine such as purpose-built accommodation at Melbourne or Avalon airports.
The lockdown started on Saturday as a “short, sharp circuit breaker” against a “hyper-infectious” outbreak of the UK strain, linked to cases from Melbourne Airport’s Holiday Inn.
Mr Andrews on Tuesday suggested that while the lockdown was well-placed to end, there could be changes.
“That will be based on public health advice, whether we can go back directly to the settings that were there on Thursday and Friday or whether we have to ease back into it,” he said.
Williamstown Chamber of Commerce vice-president Craig Turton said the lockdown had been a real blow for local business.
“Just as small businesses were starting to get back in the rhythm of normal operations and looking forward to a big trading weekend they were forced to pivot again with 12 hours’ notice,” he said.
“The impact has been great. I’ve heard of small operators losing up to $10,000 in sales but also local construction businesses losing up to $100,000.
“We also can’t forget that many casual workers have lost wages.
“The issue for many businesses will now be the sudden surge of sales again when they reopen and trying to accommodate lost sales within existing sales.
“Again, the support from the community has been outstanding and we are lucky we operate in such a caring environment.”
Major supermarkets reinstated purchase limits on staple products as shoppers immediately began to stockpile.
Shopper Julie Maree Douglas-Walker said that as soon as the lockdown was announced on Friday afternoon, a queue formed outside Coles at Central Square Shopping Centre in Altona Meadows.
“I had to go to the post office this afternoon to post a letter,” she said.
“I was in Central Square Shopping Centre for only five minutes.
“Nobody was queued at Coles when I first walked past it.
“By the time I walked through the shopping centre to go to the post office and returned back passing Coles, a line that had formed.
“It’s definitely unnecessary panic shopping once again.
“There’s simply no need for this type of behaviour when we can all still carry out our grocery shopping daily during this recent snap five-day lockdown. It’s ridiculous.”
Hitesh Palta, who owns IGA stores in Altona and Deer Park and during Melbourne’s first lockdown was the first Australian retailer to open early for the elderly, said two extra delivery drivers on standby for online orders.
The lockdown ahead of Valentine’s Day caused heartache for some businesses.
A western suburbs florist, who didn’t want to be named, said Valentine’s Day sales usually set them up for the rest of the year.
“I’ve already paid for all the flowers,” she said.
“It’s at least $15,000 and I don’t know what is going to happen.”
