Businesses in Western Australia's South West have been scrambling to enforce sudden mask mandates for the region, with one owner saying there was not enough notice given.
The state mandate was expanded to the South West on Monday evening after a number of locations were found to have been visited by confirmed COVID-19 cases.
The growing list of exposure sites includes Margaret River, Beedelup and Forest Grove.
Bunbury gym owner Ryan Youngman said he had barely an hour to get everything ready at his 24-hour operation.
"We got the announcement minutes before 5pm to say that the mandate was active from 6pm," he said.
"We also had many staff here and we didn't have access to any masks."
Policed by workers
Mr Youngman, who also owns a local bar, said the sudden change had to be enforced by retail and hospitality workers who could be put in an "awkward position" when dealing with customers.
"Everyone felt the same frustration we felt," he said.
Mr Youngman said it would be helpful if the state government informed businesses before new rules were announced to the broader public so they could have more time to implement any necessary changes.
'It is what it is'
Cafe co-owner Bradley Linfield said he had to quickly get masks organised for his staff when the mandates were announced, but that employees and customers seemed happy to oblige.
With the state's border opening less than three weeks away, Mr Linfield said he was not too worried about backlash because everyone seemed to be doing the right thing.
"People are pretty used to it now," he said.
"It is what it is."
Patrons oblige
Retail and hospitality customers along Bunbury's busy Victoria street seemed quick to take up the mandate, with most people either wearing them indoors or putting them on when requested by staff.
Resident Ellen Booth said she had made a habit of wearing masks indoors and would be continuing to do so come February 5.
But Ms Booth was concerned about how more senior members of the public were learning of the latest requirements when the information was primarily being distributed online.
"For older people who haven't got the likes of social media and that, they have to wait for the news and maybe it's too late by then," she said.
