Ararat business owners have been left puzzled and disheartened by the requirement for staff to be fully vaccinated by October 22.
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Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed on Tuesday that all hospitality workers would need two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine after original health directions said hospitality workers must be fully vaccinated by November 26.
Ararat RSL manager Maria Whitford said the announcement was "disappointing" for the business, which meant re-opening its doors this weekend.
"We received advice that we were on the right track to open," she said.
"First jab on October 22 and second jab on November 26, with two days' notice it changed.
"For us it was 15 people off the roster as of Friday, which meant we can't open."
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Mrs Whitford said the announcement had caught a lot of businesses off guard.
"The whole industry went into a whirlwind," she said.
"Now, a lot of businesses can't open.
"Because hospitality hires a lot of 16-29 year old's which meant that age group wasn't able to get their vaccinations until later.
"Some of them were going in for AstraZeneca, which meant the gap between your first and second was long.
"We have been scrambling to try to get them to bring it forward if they can.
"Again, it feels like we have been left behind,"
Chally's Bar and Bistro manager Bonaventure Tai said the immediate 48 hours after the government's clarification was challenging.
"The last 48 hours have been very, very stressful," he said.
"48 hours is not enough time. There could have been some more clarity given.
"At one point, I was in a position where we were likely to close down.
"I was going to have to shut down the kitchen until the rest of the staff were able to get their second dose, and we met the minimum requirement.
"It has been quite the challenge."
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Mr Tai said the Golf Club's restaurant has been able to keep its doors open.
"Thankfully we get to soldier on from tomorrow (October 22)," he said.
"Thankfully, the medical staff here in Ararat were kind enough to prioritise us, to help us open and continue the business.
"We will increase our maximum capacity in line with the road map. We can now have 30 people indoors.
"After the announcement of the last 48 hours, 88% of our staff are actually double dosed and over 95% of my staff are first dosed vaccinated."
Mr Tai said he feels for anyone who has been affected by the Victorian government's clarification on October 19.
"The industry has been heavily affected," he said.
"It was more so that my kitchen staff than my front of house staff, temporarily stand them down until they have obtained their second dose.
"Unfortunately, some (businesses) have had to close. We are one of the lucky ones.
"We were not deemed as an essential business, but it is also what we offer to the general community.
"It is not just a business, but we also support families, that's a big part of the hospitality industry."
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