By Renee Wood
A surge of rising Covid-19 cases, isolations, a lack of Rapid Antigen Tests and PCR result wait times are a cocktail creating a staffing disaster in the Yarra Ranges.
Many businesses have been left struggling to find staff in the midst of the Omicron wave, with shortages being felt across several sectors.
Some businesses have already imposed or are looking to reduce hours, unable to trade their usual times with no staff available.
The hospitality sector was already struggling to find staff last year however, this is yet another blow upon blow for the industry.
Healesville Hotel director Michael Kennedy said this Covid-19 surge is posing different issues than in previous years.
“There are already staff shortages, then we have to have somebody checking vaccinations all the time, that takes another person out of the equation, and then you add in isolation and public health orders and all of a sudden you’re really running out of staff,” Mr Kennedy said.
“This is a completely different scenario with the ‘let it rip’, in terms of the isolation and the disruption of business now, and there doesn’t appear to be any talk of any support for either employees or businesses.”
Mr Kennedy has decided to close Cellars Coffee for the week to prioritise the hotel’s operation.
“It’s pretty much a day by day proposition at the moment with staff having to isolate because of waiting for tests, and then one of the biggest problems is you can’t access rapid antigen tests.
“So we just decided that we wanted to focus on trying to keep the basics open.”
Mr Kennedy believes ‘self imposed’ lockdowns will also have an affect on those who’re remaining open.
“That’ll have a negative effect in terms of we might not be busy enough anyway.
“I’m sure a lot of people are going to be looking at their trading hours after this week, because I think this week’s going to tell us whether or not the self imposed lockdown is a real thing or not.”
The hotel is already starting to see a wave of cancellations come through for the month.
“All our accommodation has just been decimated as well, lots of bookings for January, they’re cancelling left right and centre.
“We work all year to have January if you like, it’s all hands on deck but this year it’s a complete and utter shadow of itself.”
Density limits of one person per two square metres have also been brought back in for indoor hospitality venues.
“We will get through it, we will return to normality, just how long that takes – who knows?”
