The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Retailers Association and the Australian Hotels Association say employees will walk away from the already short-staffed sectors in droves unless the mask rule is ditched.A move to scrap the mandate would align Victoria with all other eastern seaboard states, which only recommend that masks be worn by shop, bar and restaurant staff.However, doubt has been cast over the push as the state prepares for the “Son of Omicron”.Mater Health Services director of infectious diseases Paul Griffin told 3AW on Thursday that while Covid restrictions should not continue “a moment longer than they’re needed”, now was a “tricky” time to lift them.He noted that while there was a risk of the public “disengaging” and becoming “frustrated” with the rules, he pointed to rising case numbers from the new Covid-19 Omicron BA. 2 sub-variant as the reason there should be no immediate changes.“The timing right now is a little bit tricky to remove them (the mask mandates), I think we perhaps could have a few weeks ago,” Mr Griffin said.“Right now it might be good just to wait a few more days or a week or two just to see what happens with BA.2.”Victorian Chamber chief executive Paul Guerra has also called for a detailed winter roadmap that rules out lockdowns and outlines clear trigger points for the reintroduction of restrictions, such as masks and social distancing.Based on a similar blueprint released in California last month, it would strike a balance between moving on while also remaining prepared for the potential of new variants and waves.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.“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.On the masks mandate, Mr Guerra said if action wasn’t taken soon, “we’re going to start losing more people out of those industries because they can work in other industries without putting a mask on”.Australian Retailers Association CEO Paul Zahra said national consistency around safety measures was crucial.“It doesn’t make sense for Victoria to have the harshest mask rules,” he said. “As it’s been throughout the pandemic, the Covid rules are different depending on where you live and work – and it’s hard to comprehend why.”Australian Hotels Association CEO Paddy O’Sullivan said: “In a pub setting, staff wearing masks doesn’t necessarily address or prevent the broader challenge.” A government spokesman said: “We’re balancing the need to support our health system with the benefits of easing restrictions in a careful and sensible way”.
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