A return to stage three restrictions in regional areas was always going to be unpalatable because for many areas case numbers had been either zero or small compared with the metropolitan area.

Stage three rules are clearly not as restrictive as those in Melbourne which prevent people from travelling more than five kilometres from home and retail stores being shut for six weeks, throwing thousands of people out of work.

But the impacts on regional hospitality and tourism industries are severe. Their resilence has already been tested and there had been light at the end of the tunnel until everything changed again. The decision to cut meatworks' production by a third might seem logical given there have been major virus outbreaks at several sites.

But the move has the potential to shutdown Warrnambool's Midfield Meats, the region's biggest employer, for six weeks. That means about 1000 people will be out of jobs and about $10m won't be pumped into our economy.

The decision cuts deep. But it cuts even deeper when Midfield management voluntarily closed for three days last month while it completed a deep clean of the facility and introduced above-industry standards. All staff were tested. All were negative. The company has gone above and beyond in an attempt to remain open.

The state government said it would work with the industry after an outbreak at Brooklyn's Cedar Meats in April so operations could continue in a COVID-safe manner. It's clear that did not happen with outbreaks at Colac and now two chicken plants.

Why did it take so long to introduce strict protective clothing measures? Why should Midfield, its workers, our region, suffer when the right thing had been done? Why aren't processors assessed on a case-by-case basis?

Mr Andrews argues the cost of business closures for six weeks is smaller than the health costs and lives lost. That's the ugly truth we don't want to hear. No matter how you look at it, disaster sums up the state of Victoria.