Doubt has been cast over a push to scrap masks for Victorian hospitality and retail workers as the state prepares for the “Son of Omicron”.
Mater Health Services director of infectious diseases Paul Griffin told 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.”
It comes after three ofxjmtzyw Victoria’s main business lobby groups have banded together, asking for the mask mandate to end for hospitality and retail workers.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce chief executive Paul Guerra told the on Thursday that if the mandate was not lifted, staff would head to other industries where masks were not required.
Similar sentiments are shared by the Australian Retailers Association and Australian Hotels Association, with Australian Retailers chief executive Paul Zahra saying “it doesn’t make sense for Victoria to have the harshest mask rules”.
Victoria’s Covid-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar warned of rising case numbers in March and April on Wednesday, revealing that BA.2 has been found in half of the state’s wastewater samples.
