Lobby groups call for mask mandates to be lifted for hospitality and a winter roadmap
Three of Victoria’s key business lobby groups are requesting mask mandates for hospitality and retail workers be dropped and are demanding a winter road map to deal with new Covid spikes.
The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Retailers Association and the Australian Hotels Association say many employees will leave these sectors unless the mask rule is scrapped.
Ditching the mask mandate would put Victoria in the same position as all other eastern seaboard states, which recommend that masks only be worn by shop, bar and restaurant staff.
In addition to this, Victorian Chamber chief executive Paul Guerra wants a detailed winter road map that would outline trigger points for the reintroduction of restrictions including face masks and social distancing.
The plan would be similar to one introduced in California in February, which strikes a balance between post pandemic behaviour and preparedness for new waves and variants of COVID.
Mr Guerra said the certainty would help businesses adapt to any challenges during the colder winter months.
“Give us the conditions upon which masks are going to be needed again, or travel is going to be restricted again, so businesses can start planning,” said Guerra.
“We know what’s occurring overseas. We should be ready to adopt a similar thing (and then) … at the end of August we slam the door shut on this thing and get on with what will be the final recovery,” he said.
A spokesman for the government said: “We’re balancing the need to support our health system with the benefits of easing restrictions in a careful and sensible way.”
Irit Jackson, 17th March 2022
