Coronavirus (COVID-19) Unfamiliar working environment soon to become ‘normal’ —

With crisis and disaster hitting Australia one by one, it's hard to know how this year is going to pan out. Coronavirus (COVID-19) is on everyone's mind at the moment, and it may be up to six months or more until the country can get back to normal again.

As an essential system and an integral part of Australia's food chain supply, the Melbourne Market continues to operate. However, precautionary measures have been put in place, leaving business far from usual. As the spread of the virus began to increase, the Market introduced safety rules and procedures. Social distancing rules were put in place, where it is no longer acceptable to congregate in areas together, and Market users must maintain the 1.5 metre social distancing rule. Visual guides have been placed on the floor in selected areas of the Buyers' Walk and trading floor to demonstrate the 1.5 metre social distancing rule. Additionally, if any Market user is deliberately not following social distancing rules they will be excluded from the market. Several changes were introduced regarding visitors to the Market. Market users have been encouraged to refrain from inviting non-essential visitors. Gate 1 personnel will be getting all visitors to determine if the visit is warranted and if the meeting could be done via phone or video conference instead. Every person entering the Market also needs to present their access cards. Those who do not have their access card will be required to go into the gate 1 security office to verify their identity. Operational changes have also been put in place, where electric vehicles being used on the trading floor are limited to one person per vehicle. Temperature testing was introduced on April 2nd, as a screening tool to help ensure potential COVID-19 infected persons do not enter the Market. Temperature testing is conducted at Gate 1 and ensures that every person, driver, passenger, or pedestrian entering the Market will be temperature tested. Persons who record an average temperature range of under 38C will be able to proceed through gate 1, into the Market site. If a person registers a temperature of 38C or above, they will be asked to move their vehicle to a holding area, where they have the opportunity to be tested again 10 minutes later. The second test is conducted to allow a person time to cool down if the temperature was not from a fever, but the result of strenuous activity or similar. If in 10 minutes, the person's temperature still records as being 38C or over, they will not be able to enter the Market. At this point, the person would be advised to seek medical advice. And as a constant reminder to the Market community, the following message has been distributed on a regular basis. "If you are feeling unwell, you should stay at home and seek medical advice. Do not attend the Market for work, or to purchase flowers or produce, if you are feeling unwell in any way." Fruit and vegetables will continue to be a vital part of Australia's food chain and not to mention the importance of staying healthy in times like these. These unfamiliar operational conditions at the Market will soon become familiar as we continue to work like this for months to come. Fresh State and the Melbourne Market Authority continue to provide support and guidance in this unknown future and will ensure the market community is safe and work is pushing on.