REGIONAL Victoria moving back to Stage 3 COVID-19 restrictions will be a bitter blow for many businesses in the Mildura electorate which have struggled to overcome the first lockdown.
Member for Mildura Ali Cupper on Sunday wanted to ensure the business community in her electorate she would be doing everything to engage and help them survive this difficult time.
“We know the first lockdown had a huge impact on especially small businesses and I want to ensure I can do everything possible to ensure they get the support they need,” she said.
Stage 3 restrictions mean from midnight Wednesday there will only be four reasons to leave home: work, education, health or care giving, and for exercise.
Businesses such as pubs, nightclubs, pools, gyms, galleries, beauty and personal services, wildlife parks, cinemas and theatres and religious services will have to close. Cafes and restaurants will only be able to offer takeaway.
Community sport and training will be banned.
School will return to remote learning from Wednesday.
The new restrictions will be in place for six weeks.
From Monday, wearing a mask will also be mandatory while in public.
Ms Cupper understood there would be a lot of anxiety and anger about the harsher restrictions.
“It feels like a bit of a sledgehammer approach for us given we have had low numbers of COVID-19 for so long,” she said.
“However, we now know one of the active cases in the Swan Hill LGA is from the Robinvale area, so it shows we are not immune from the virus.
“But I share people’s concerns about these restrictions. It’s going to be a difficult time again for all of us and there will be a feeling we are being punished given there have been low numbers here – in fact no cases in the Mildura LGA for months.
“But I would urge people to stick together and take care of each other. We need to channel our anxiety and anger into helping each other rather than tearing each other apart.
“The faster Victoria can get on top of the COVID-19 numbers, the better off we all will be. So let’s do our part.”
Ms Cupper has urged people not to engage in panic buying which was prevalent during the first lockdown.
“What we know from the first lockdown is that supermarkets remained open, and that will be the case again,” she said.
“People do not need to hoard food or any else, like toilet paper. You will still be able to go to the supermarket.”
