By Renee Wood
A surge of rising Covid-19 cases, isolations, a lack of Rapid Antigen Tests and long PCR result wait times are creating a staffing disaster in the Yarra Ranges.
Many businesses have been left struggling with no staff in the midst of the Omicron wave, with shortages being felt across several sectors.
The hospitality sector was already struggling to find workers last year and this is yet another blow upon blow for the industry.
Gladysdale Bakehouse in Yarra Junction has closed over the past few weeks due to staff needing to isolate.
Owner Jason Rush said once was due to customers testing positive and the other due to a staff member contracting the virus.
Mr Rush said this is all happening during the region’s busiest times of the year.
“At the moment we’re not running our full breakfast menu all week because I just can’t keep up with it,” Mr Rush said.
“We’ve got Blue Lotus up the road which just opened and the tourism side of that is huge for us, so we’ve just got to continue making adjustments.”
Some businesses have already imposed reduced hours or closures, due to a lack of staff and rising case concerns.
Red Relish Café in Yarra Junction has announced it will remain closed until the end of January to protect staff, with the reward not worth the risk.
Ms Cordina said two of her staff members are immune-compromised and won’t be opening until January 28.
“We were getting more and more cases in town and I just really weighed it up, and I thought it’s getting to the stage where it’s not worth opening while it’s school holidays and there’s so many people about,” Ms Cordina said.
The café’s proximity to the Yarra Junction testing centre also posed an infection risk for staff and customers.
“We were having people come in for food and coffee who were waiting to be tested.
“If you’ve got symptoms, and you’re in line to get tested – why are you coming in?”
Healesville Hotel also closed Cellars Coffee for a week to prioritise the hotel’s operation due to staffing shortages.
“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,” Healesville Hotel Director Michael Kennedy said.
Mr Kennedy said this Covid-19 surge is posing different issues than in previous years.
“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.”
Cafes and restaurants are also seeing hostility from customers due to enforcing the guidelines.
“It only takes one person a day to have a crack at you for following some guidelines to totally ruin your whole day,” Mr Rush said.
Mr Rush said the Bakehouse is strict with mask wearing and vaccination requirements to keep the doors open, serve the community and keep locals employed.
“We’ve potentially lost some customers because we’re quite strict on our Covid policy, but maybe being strict on our Covid policy as well has allowed us to stay open for all this time.
“I have an obligation to keep 15 of my staff safe, I have an obligation to keep my family safe and my staff’s family safe and we won’t budge on that.”
Red Relish Café owner Sue Cordina is also noticing more customers getting angry at staff.
“Just be kind to people, we’re all doing it hard – nobody wants to say you can’t come in, nobody wants to say that. We’re all backed into a corner, doing what we have to do to survive, so we don’t get fined so we don’t get shut down. It’s a daily battle right now for all of us,” she said.
People entering ‘self-imposed’ lockdowns is another factor the hospitality sector is watching closely.
“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,” Mr Kennedy said.
The Healesville Hotel is already starting to see a wave of cancellations come through for the rest of 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.”
While businesses are currently taking it day by day, waiting for the spike to end, it’s hard to see what the future will hold for the industry.
Many businesses have closed permanently due to the pandemic, but the shakeup of the industry has only just begun.
“I think there really has to be a whole new world of outdoor dining, and I think that councils and government really have to look at small business and say, how can we help you?” Ms Cordinia said.
“We will get through it, we will return to normality, just how long that takes – who knows?” Mr Kennedy said.
