Many businesses, particularly in hospitality, have taken to social media to announce temporary closures or reduced trading.
With visitors in town for the summer holidays, hospitality businesses would usually be thriving but instead operators are having to close their doors.
On Wednesday, Taras Hall Hotel announced on Facebook it had to close, a “heartbreaking” decision for owner Michelle Koch.
Two of her staff tested positive for COVID-19, and another, who is unwell, is waiting for a test result.
As a close contact of the staff, Ms Koch was hoping to get a rapid antigen test and — given she received an all-clear — open just the bar to help cover costs, but has not been able to access a test.
On Thursday, she joined the queue for a PCR test, but faces a potentially lengthy turnaround time given the strain on the testing system in Victoria.
“It’s frustrating — this is our livelihood,” she said.
“Thursdays are our biggest night, it’s our Parmy night; I had to cancel bookings and we had so much stock come in yesterday.”
Echuca pub 1895 The Royal also had to close early this week after a quarter of its workforce was thrown into isolation as household COVID-19 contacts.
“This week would’ve been our busiest week ever and we need that to claw back from the two years we’ve been through,” owner Brendan Harpley said.
“To find ourselves closing our doors in our biggest week is heartbreaking and it feels like we’re in a lockdown, without the government support.”
He said they hoped to offer takeaway and delivery shortly, ahead of an expected reopening by the end of next week.
