There have been strong political and social reactions amidst the decision to have put Victoria in a stage four lockdown.

Despite the lockdown ending on Wednesday 17 February at 11:59pm, small business owners are concerned about the implications if snap lockdowns are repeated in future.

“We can survive if the five kilometre rule is not in force despite the lockdown…so that people can shop where they want and need,” George Mylonas, who runs the “George the Fishmonger” fish shop at the Queen Victoria Market told Neos Kosmos. 

Those who have been severely affected, especially by the five kilometre rule, are shop owners in key Melbourne shopping destinations, such as the Queen Victoria Market.

The ban of five kilometers, Mr Mylonas added, “breaks” the clientele. Especially regular customers, who come from all over the state.

“We have nothing to do, it is a ‘cemetery’,” he said on Tuesday, referring to the “worst day” for his business in 16 years.

“The problem is that when you build your business, its customers create habits. And the habit is to come to you. When you restrict them, they go somewhere else, they form another habit,” he said.

READ MORE: Liacos leads fight to keep Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market landmark viable in COVID times

The Queen Victoria Market has struggled to stay open in 2020 amid the pandemic.

Greek-born Stan Liacos, CEO of Queen Victoria Proprietary Limited, spoke to Neos Kosmos shortly after the second lockdown was lifted about the effects of the pandemic.

The market was found to have losses of $1 million per month. The blow was huge for its 600 traders, including about 40 Greek-Australians. Significant rents were offered and business assistance was provided.

Mr Liacos said those living within a five kilometre radius of the market accounted for about 25 percent of visitors.

That is, the remaining 75 percent were people who came from far away or even tourists, during the pre-coronavirus era.

“If we lose traders, we lose the market,” he said.

The Queen Victoria Market was in the news in the past few days as it was included in the list of possible coronavirus exposure sites. One woman, who tested positive for COVID-19, visited Sector 2 with fruits and vegetables last Thursday, 11 February.

Since then, the area had been deep cleaned.

*Translated by Marianna Alepidis