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COMMUNITY PHARMACIES FEEL HEAT AS SECOND WAVE HITS CBy Nerine Zoio. ommunity pharmacies weren’t spared the rush for surgical masks as authorities confirmed face coverings or masks would become mandatory in public across metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire in late July, due to a spike in COVID-19 cases. People in these areas were warned that if they did not wear a mask when leaving the house, they were liable to be fined $200 by police. Amcal Wattle Park Pharmacy Manager Ralph Durra tells Retail Pharmacy the general sense is that the COVID-19 second wave is “a lot worse” than the first wave. This is confirmed by Health Minister Jenny Mikakos who stated that Victoria’s state of emergency had been extended until August 16, in view of the situation. Regardless, Mr Durra says the pharmacy is up and ready for the second wave despite the pressures of the first one, and has put in all the precautions necessary to safeguard customers and staff. “We’ve got Perspex shields at every counter, all our staff are wearing masks, we wipe down surfaces with alcohol frequently and we wash our hands regularly and socially distance where possible as per guidelines,” he said. A few days before enforcement, a long queue of people in search of face masks was visible outside Chemist Warehouse Brunswick, Melbourne, as an example of many, which customers tweeted was selling packs of 50 face masks for $40, available for home delivery. People who haven’t been able to buy face masks at pharmacies have resorted to stores such as Spotlight in the quest for mask fabric. The surge in demand followed Premier Daniel Andrews encouraging Victorians to wear masks, scarves or bandanas once out and about, and if they couldn’t maintain 1.5m distance from another person. “No mask will bring the risk down to zero, but every type of mask and face covering will mitigate some of the risk,” he said. “That shouldn’t be read as forecasting where we think case numbers are going to go, it should be seen just as a precautionary measure that’s pretty low cost and very high benefit.” “Wearing a mask reduces the likelihood of you spreading it if you happen to have it, and it reduces the chances of you getting it if you move in a circle of people, if you’re in a space you can’t maintain that 1.5 metres. Numbers are low in regional Victoria and we want to try and do everything we can to keep them low and wearing masks is just a logical next step. “The only way for the virus to actually spread is, it has to have some form of human-to-human contact, either direct touching or via a droplet or something like that because someone is in very close proximity to them.” Social media abounded with comments at the time about how the charge for face masks could increase contraction of COVID-19 compared with “squashing” it, as a tweet stated. According to Mr Durra, Melbourne could potentially go into stage four coronavirus lockdown restrictions. NEWS IN FOCUS 11 “People are definitely taking it more seriously,” he said. As yet there is no definition of what stage four might mean in terms of new rules or when it would come into effect, but Premier Andrews hasn’t ruled it out. Mr Durra attributes the increase in COVID-19 cases in Melbourne to outbreaks in various hubs, after which “it catches “it catches fire and away it goes like a spot fire”. He says that after the call was made by Premier Andrews the pharmacy ran out of face masks within the day, and anticipates that it will quickly sell the new lot it receives, which are being imported. TO PAGE 12 RETAIL PHARMACY • AUG 2020