REGIONAL hospitality businesses have been left scrambling this week, after the Victorian Government announced on Thursday that staff would need to be fully vaccinated by yesterday’s deadline to continue working. 

The State Government’s vaccine mandate for authorised workers states employees must have their first vaccination by October 15 – or be booked to receive it by October 22 - and be fully vaccinated by November 26. The Department of Justice and Community Safety advised industry bodies on Tuesday that this remained the case, however, Premier Daniel Andrews this week made the last-minute decision to make double vaccination for hospitality workers mandatory by yesterday, leaving an already hurting industry stretched even further.