Victoria's current lockdown is the first since the federal government's JobKeeper support subsidy was wound back. Responding to the latest outbreak, which has seen 70 new cases of COVID-19, the State Government has released two rounds of business support packages, providing grants of $5,000 and over to eligible small to medium-sized businesses and sole traders, including restaurants and cafes, event suppliers, accommodation venues and non-essential retailers.

But with an extended lockdown and a growing number of confirmed COVID cases, will current stimulus packages be enough to keep small businesses afloat? Data suggests that Melbourne’s inner and eastern suburbs record the greatest proportion of businesses that operate in the retail trade and accommodation and food services industries – who have been forced to temporarily close or alter their business model due to social distancing measures.