WORKERS are being left without financial support as businesses opt for a seven-day shutdown amid rising COVID-19 cases.
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The Hotel Shamrock Bendigo is just one of these venues, deciding to close its downstairs bistro area and upstairs bar Yard Bird after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus.
Shamrock owner Ray Sharawara said the business was expected to return to full operation on Friday.
"We closed (those areas) for two reasons," he said. "One, we have people who tested positive to COVID. They have to isolate and can come back when they have tested negative.
"The other reason is we have people in isolation because of their association (with the positive cases). Some live in the same house or are partners and are caught up in mandatory isolation. The quarantine period is good by Friday and we will have enough staff to reopen."
Hospitality business owner Andrew Lethlean said one of his venues - Tonic - remains closed because of the state government's dance floor restrictions while another - The Metropolitan Hotel - has drastically reduced its hours.
He said his businesses that had endured a seven-day shutdown as staff isolated, had come through that but that working-from-home orders gave CBD businesses a bigger challenge.
"This is the toughest period we have been in," he said, "we are doing 10 per cent of our normal trade."
"Tonic haven't opened at all because of the closure of dance floors and the Metro has reduced hours right back because the amount of staff affected by COVID (as patients or close contacts)," he said. "Now we're on the other end of that and are looking alright but the biggest issue is the CBD offices and work groups that are working from home.
"There is no life in the CBD. If we're not closing for staff, there's now no one around. It's not feasible for us to open to our full operation hours. We have only opened the Metro on Friday and Saturday nights in the last two weeks."
Mr Sharawara said the unfortunate part for any business that opts for a temporary shutdown is that staff have no income or financial support.
"They don't qualify for any benefits and that is the sad part what happens with regulations. You get caught up in what the rules are but there are unfortunate bystanders," he said.
"The motivate behind what we did is to try stop and contain what already knew was there. There is also a possibility that there could have been others who are asymptomatic and we don't want to take that risk.
"(Staff are) completely understanding but obviously disappointed. You feel sorry for the staff because we don't get revenue (which means) staff get no payment and are caught up in a bureaucratic mandate. We understand why (that mandate) is made but we plead for assistance from the government."
Mr Lethlean said for businesses to operate at full capacity there needed to be a constant demand from customers.
"There is no support from the government, no JobKeeper, so for us to open it has to be feasible," he said. "With no office workers in town and retail sluggish we are limited. There is no lunch trade, the weekend entertainment has no dance floors and people are paranoid about coming out."
Mr Lethlean said despite the struggles of businesses in the CBD, they were still staying positive that normal foot traffic could resume.
"We're positive we can get Bendigo promoting 'let's get back to normal' and see people out about again," he said. "It's important to look at the positives like getting music back in Bull Street on Friday and Saturday where we have plenty of outdoor space. We want people to be positive and get back to life as normal and enjoy the great venues, restaurants and bars we have.
"We can't plan ahead because we don't know where we are at. We think one way out is if locals come out and support businesses.
"Staff are itching to get back to work. They are all casual, so they need incomes but we need people out an about to get them back to work. If the customers are not there, there's no work for casual staff who need food on table."
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