VICTORIAN Pharmacy Guild Branch President Anthony Tassone says this week's announcement about the reopening of the NSW/Vic border from 23 Nov is "fantastic news" for pharmacists who have been persevering through the strict lockdowns over recent months.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the move on Wed, saying the reopening at 12.01am on Mon 23 Nov should give the community the confidence to make plans, book holidays and reunite with family members.
Tassone (pictured) said the decision "shows the great progress being made in tackling the COVID pandemic's second wave," and was welcomed not only by all Victorians but also all Australians.
"The border closure has been hard on many people across the community, particularly regional community pharmacies with disruptions at times for their own workforce community to and from work, as well as sourcing locum pharmacists," he said.
"While patients could cross the border to seek healthcare, the reopening will be an important step to returning to some sort of normal for them, as it can be stressful for them feeling assured they can access the care they need."
He also noted the impact on pharmacy proprietors with interstate ownership interests, who have been unable to visit their pharmacies and offer direct support to their teams without undergoing a period of quarantine.
"This pandemic has exhausted and drained everybody, and it has been very difficult for some working in community pharmacy on the frontline to have any respite and to just 'take a break'.
"The border reopening is another step closer to feeling like one country again and hopefully more border re-openings can follow suit," Tassone concluded.
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