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If Victoria were a country, the increase in its COVID-19 caseload since late June, 570 per cent, would rank as the 13th-highest in the world, slightly worse than Madagascar, Angola and Libya. A desperate situation calls for desperate measures. But however long it takes for transmissions to taper off — and modelling varies on that point — the costs and pain of stage-four restrictions are being exacerbated as the “state of desperation” degenerated into a state of confusion before and during their first full day. Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox summed up the frustrations of employers and workers on Thursday when he said business owners were experiencing “mass confusion” about who could operate. Confusion was rife in warehousing, manufacturing, the building trade and other sectors about the permitted worker scheme. Lack of supporting documentation from government and slow updates on some government sites were problematic for businesses. Terminology such as “common sense will prevail” was little comfort for business owners facing $20,000 fines or trying to explain to a police officer why they were open. EY chief executive Tony Johnson said confusion in the Victorian business community in the 48 hours before the stage-four lockdown was unprecedented, with serious concerns centred on supply chains and distribution issues.