When South Gippsland first went into restrictions it was heartening to see how seriously the local traders took the situation.

South Gippsland Is Doing Well.

When South Gippsland first went into restrictions it was heartening to see how seriously the local traders took the situation.

Supermarkets and the Chemists were the first to be noticed with staff keeping numbers to a reasonable level in stores and various sensible measures such as one-way systems, customers phoning through orders, and staff bringing orders to the door.

It was very encouraging to see this action when we didn’t have any cases in South Gippsland.

At one stage, down in Foster, as the initial restrictions were beginning to ease, one shop owner mentioned that if too many people came into her shop she was going to close it down until a later time when it was safer. 

Most people were not at that stage wearing masks, but they were keeping their distance and acting safe when out and about. A trip along some business premises in the industrial area saw each business that I went into employing the best practice for their store as possible. 

Taped off areas, floor markers for standing and all manner of sensible measures appropriate to the times.

My hat goes off to Corrals Fish and Chip shop in Bair Street. The owners walled the staff in behind polycarbonate sheets and all interactions for payment went through a small hole in the poly with the staff member pulling a cord to lift the flap. All staff were wearing all manner of masks and safety clothing. No hands touching anything and no chance for any floating viruses to get across. A marvel of ingenuity.

Now we have a small number of cases in South Gippsland and people are starting to get fearful that this is the start of what is happening in Melbourne. I do not think this is going to happen.

We are lucky down here, only 27,000 people in a large are with a small number of retail areas where one comes across other people. It is actually quite hard to come into contact with people down here if one really is careful about how they go about their daily business when out and about. Picking quiet times, only going into shops when there are limited numbers and only going shopping when one must.

Now with Melbourne in stage 4 lockdown and the police policing movements in and out of Melbourne I think South Gippsland will get through this without any major breakout. Keep your distance and stay safe.

Initially, it felt strange when greeting someone through a mask and at 2m plus distance-it feels “rude” to us but we are now getting used to it and I appreciate that when people are holding back a little distance wise, that they are showing they care for their fellow human being.

Keep up the good work South Gippsland and we will get through this with our friends still here.

Oh, one rule of thumb I am employing is to keep out of confined spaces and away from air conditioners and air recycling machines.