TOMAREE Business Chamber is on the front foot.

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It is ready to support businesses as they face uncertain times due to the potential threat posed by the Coronavirus.

The country has gone into lockdown with all people entering the country being placed into a 14 day self isolation following the example set by New Zealand.

Cruise ships are also banned for a period of at least one month.

This is new territory for Australia.

Everyone is susceptible to the virus as there is no vaccination and no herd immunity.

Social distancing is the new norm.

For the foreseeable future, we won’t be shaking hands, we will be keeping a metre and a half distance for others and, as we go into winter and we won’t be holding mass gatherings.

Slowing the spread of the virus frees up crucial beds in intensive care.

Aged and indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable, this sees a large section of the Port Stephens community at risk.

Chamber President Leah Anderson has attended a meeting with representatives from Hunter Business Chambers and Economic Development Managers from local government areas to discuss the ongoing impacts of drought, bushfire and the coronavirus on local economies, and to share ideas about how to stimulate recovery.

Leah Anderson told News Of The Area, “The purpose of the meeting was to map out potential collaborative actions to address tourism and business decline, and gathering information on local impacts that can be fed back to the government and highlighting our regions needs.

”Now, more than ever, we need to work together to support business across Port Stephens,” she said.

Anderson is encouraging business to support the new Port Stephens Brand Campaign launching on 25 March.

She believes that the new brand message is strong, with a primary target audience of Sydney and Regional NSW.

Destination Port Stephens is also leveraging the “holiday here this year” tourism Australia domestic campaign.

The Business Chamber is working closely with Destination Port Stephens and Port Stephens Council to gain an understanding of the impact and how we can support our members.

Anderson is calling for businesses in difficulty due to our current circumstances to make contact with their business chamber who will continue to advocate for the best outcomes for local business.

There is no doubt that business is about to undergo massive disruption as are all of our lives.

By Marian SAMPSON