Victoria Covid restrictions: Daniel Andrews responds to ‘shadow lockdown’ criticism

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The Victorian Prime Minister hit back after being accused of putting the state in a ‘shadow lockdown’ through new Covid restrictions.

Victoria’s latest Covid rules have been called a ‘shadow lockdown’ by the opposition who claim isolation rules, density limits and restrictions have shattered Melbourne businesses.

The state recently reintroduced low-level restrictions in the aftermath of Omicron, including wearing indoor masks, density limits for hospitality, and banning indoor dance floors.

The rules were introduced to reduce the tens of thousands of cases reported every day, as the virus spreads like wildfire in the community.

Victorian-era Liberal deputy leader David Southwick said the restrictions put increased pressure on business.

“Despite the government no longer trumpeting blockages once vaccine targets are met, isolation requirements, coupled with density limits and other restrictions have left Victoria in a phantom blockade,” he said .

“The reintroduction of density limits, mask warrants and other restrictions has also meant that consumers are most reluctant to shop, keeping vital dollars away from local businesses.

“It’s another slap in the face for business owners who have endured two years of severe restrictions.”

Prime Minister Daniel Andrews on Thursday defended the current restrictions and isolation rules, saying it saved “several thousand” people from ending up in hospital.

“I know and understand that it is a challenge and that there is no family that has not been touched by this over the past few years and certainly touched a lot by that over the past few weeks and years. past months, “he said.

“But if we said it’s too difficult, let’s stop isolating, stop getting tested, stop acting on symptoms, then we wouldn’t have a thousand people in the hospital, we would have several,” several thousands.

“It would be very difficult not only for Covid patients but for anyone who needs a hospital bed.”

About a third of businesses in Melbourne’s Chapel Street compound have had to close or reduce their hours of operation in recent weeks due to Covid-induced staff shortages.

Of the 2,200 businesses on the Strip, about 30% have had to temporarily shut down, shorten their trading hours or the number of trading days.

Compound business owners this week called on the government to restore support payments for ailing restaurants, bars and retail stores.

“We just need governments to come together and we need help right now, otherwise all the money given to them over the past 22 months would have been wasted,” Chapel St CEO said. Precinct, Chrissie Maud.

“We salute, we have our hands in the air and this is code red in the small and medium-sized business sector.

Mr. Southwick called on the government to extend the commercial rental assistance program for three months to help thousands of small businesses avoid rent increases.

“The only thing different now and the previous blockages is that Daniel Andrews has left small businesses to fend for themselves by not providing the support they need at this crucial time,” he said.

“Daniel Andrews must end this shadow lockdown and stop imposing 2020 style restrictions on cafes, retailers, restaurants and family businesses and must immediately provide the support necessary for their survival.”

The prime minister said on Thursday he was listening to struggling sectors and was not ruling out providing future support.

He said that while there were rules and density limits in place for businesses, it was likely that the public had changed their behavior during the current outbreak.

“Many sites have indicated that they are not at 100% capacity and have not been for some time,” he said.

“It’s nobody’s fault, it’s the nature of this virus and people are making their own choices, not to go out as much as they could have.”

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