THESE are testing times.
I think I can speak for much of the community when I say it feels like we’re in a holding pattern.
It’s left me on edge, and I know I’m not alone.
Our business community, for instance, is doing terrific things in the face of adversity and is trying to get on with it.
But many people are feeling drained of spirit and hope.
They’re again forced to police their clients, having to turn away anyone from a red zone.
Many have copped abuse and even property damage for simply doing their job, trying to keep us all safe.
Enough is enough.
We’ve collectively been through so much in the past 18 months.
But abuse and hateful, damaging behaviour is inexcusable.
No one should show disrespect to our business community.
QR codes, face masks and sharing postcodes are a civic responsibility.
COVID-safe behaviour in a public place is not an impost on your time, it’s a necessity.
Don’t make life unnecessarily difficult.
Keep in mind that the financial safety nets for businesses aren’t in place when we’re out of lockdown.
They’d give anything for the promise of staying open and keeping a reliable income.
Some industries don’t even have that luxury.
This week I’ve written to Victoria’s Minister for Industry Support and Recovery, urging him to consider a support package for the accommodation industry.
Our hotels and motels rely most heavily on travellers from Melbourne, New South Wales and South Australia.
A huge portion of their regular clientele are either locked up or locked out.
Hotel and motel operators are also burdened with the task of checking their clients’ postcodes.
That puts them in an extremely difficult position.
They shouldn’t have to choose between safety and an income and it’s incumbent on the government to provide an income for them.
My final point is to continue lining up for vaccines, and get tested if you’re sick.
A new ad campaign is bouncing around TV and radio this week encouraging us to always see cold symptoms as possible coronavirus symptoms.
Any cough, sniffle or fever could be COVID-19, and you won’t know until you test.
