Coronavirus (COVID-19) update – 3 August 2020
| Coronavirus (COVID-19) update – 3 August 2020 View this email in your browser |
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| Coronavirus (COVID-19) update – Monday 3 August 2020 – Stage 4 restrictions – Reducing risk to your business How will stage 4 restrictions affect operations at the Melbourne Market? Yesterday Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews declared a State of Disaster in Victoria and announced that Metropolitan Melbourne would move to stage 4 restrictions. Further information has now been released as to how the restrictions will relate to workplaces. Stage 4 restrictions clearly outline that wholesale trade related to the sale and distribution of food can continue to operate. As such, the Melbourne Market remains open with regular trading hours. – Any businesses that buy or sell fruit and vegetables can continue to operate and trade at the Melbourne Market. – Any businesses that provide critical products or services to support the sale of fruit and vegetables (e.g. packaging, transport, forklift repairs, unloading, safety, etc.) can continue to operate and trade at the Melbourne Market. – The rules around Market cafes remain unchanged; cafes are restricted to take away and delivery services only. Melbourne Flower Market The MMA is seeking further clarification from the Victorian Government as to what stage 4 restrictions mean for the wholesale trade of flowers. We will communicate any changes to the operation of the Flower Market as soon as details are confirmed. Tomorrow, on Tuesday 4 August, the Flower Market will be open for trade. You can view the full list of Melbourne Market restrictions and COVID operational changes on our website. Reducing risk to your business The current level of Market operational restrictions remain unchanged; this means the things you are already used to, like temperature screening and limits on people in electric vehicles remain the same, with no additional restrictions put in place. A key factor on whether the Market will advance to the next level in our business continuity plan, placing additional restrictions on Market operations, is how well Market users comply with the behaviours that help stop the spread of the virus; these are: – Social distancing, keeping a distance of 1.5 metres between yourself and others wherever possible – Wearing a face mask at all times – Practising good hygiene by regularly washing and sanitising your hands These measures and other ways to limit contact with others in the Market, such as pre-orders and deliveries to parking bays, have been well publicised. A fundamental way to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus, as well as reduce impacts to a business in the possible event of future positive COVID cases in the Market, is by limiting ‘close contact’ with others. When COVID contact tracing is undertaken, the DHHS look to isolate people deemed to be ‘close contacts’. ‘Close contact’ means having face-to-face contact for more than 15 minutes with someone; or, sharing a closed space, regardless of size, like an office or warehouse, with a person for more than two hours. Market wholesalers, growers, unloaders and traders should consider how their operations can be structured to reduce instances of ‘close contact’ as much as possible. Examples could include: – Segregation of duties – limiting employee movements to one area like the warehouse, or store/stand where applicable – Time limits – limiting the total time buyers or others not in your employment can spend on your premises to under 15 minutes. We all have a part to play to ensure the Melbourne Market remains operational, and we must work together to do everything we can to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Questions A summary of previous COVID-19 updates and operational changes are kept on our website, click here to access. If you have any further questions, you can call the 24-hour security number, 0408 334 555.  |
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