By Brendan Rees
Casey residents will be among five million Victorians set to face a long winter in hibernation as the state’s surging coronavirus tally forced the State Government to order a six-week lockdown.
Just weeks after easing of rules the new lockdown will begin from 11.59 on Wednesday 8 July, extending across Melbourne’s 31 local government area including Casey, Cardinia and Greater Dandenong.
According to the latest health data on 8 July, 21 active cases of the virus were recorded in Casey City while Greater Dandenong had four cases and Cardinia zero. There are now 456 cases believed to be related to community transmission.
State-wide the figures showed there were 134 new cases of coronavirus recorded in the 24 hours to 8 July.
Of the new cases 11 were linked to outbreaks and 123 are under investigation. No cases have been detected in returned travellers in hotel quarantine.
Under the lockdown, the exceptions for leaving home will be shopping for essential items, care-giving or seeking care, work and study – if they can’t be done at home, and exercise.
Dale Munckton, president of the Narre Warren Business Group said the return to lockdown would “severely impact” businesses.
“We’re devastated for the local business community. Our local businesses are resilient and will fight back after these latest setbacks however we call on both State and Federal Governments to provide both extended and additional funding to those impacted,” Mr Munckton said.
President of the Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce Judy Davis echoed Mr Munckton’s comments, saying the consequences of the lockdown would also put pressure on businesses but maintained the chamber would do as much as it could to keep them afloat.
“This is a very precarious time for us all. I know many will have to close down and I want to let those businesses we are there to help once lockdown is over,” Ms Davis said, adding she would be contacting local MPs for assistance.
Mush Rahaman, the owner of La Baguette cafe in Berwick Village, whose sales were down by 73 per cent in May, said he had to draw from his superannuation to support his family.
“The economic impact will be there for quite a long time,” he said.
“I’m trying to save myself, my family, so that we could go through this.”
Meanwhile, Dr Amanda Heffernan, Lecturer of the Faculty of Education at Monash University said teachers had already reported working long hours under intense conditions but was pleased the government would provide additional planning time for staff for next term.
