As we baby step our way out of the coronavirus social isolation and restrictions start to ease, there is undoubtedly a level of uncertainty.

By no means, as far as this pandemic is concerned, are we out of the woods yet. Recent events have showed us how contagious COVID-19 is and reinforced to us the need to actively support social distancing and hand hygiene.

Yet we must start to function again as a society. Our economy is on life support and needs us as a community to get back to work. Many businesses have been able to pivot and continue to operate during this period, but many others will be preparing to do so now. The sad truth is some businesses won't make it back.

Now, more than ever, we need to support local business as much as possible. When the impact of the pandemic and restrictions hit, the Border Mail launched a free online directory called Open For Business where any business could register to tell the people of the Border and North East they were open for trading.

As restrictions begin to ease in NSW - and soon Victoria - we will now be turning focus to a Back In Business campaign. If you are now opening your business, you can register it free in our Back in Business directory. If you have already registered as part of the Open for Business directory you will be emailed to update your details.

Register your business for the free online Back In Business directory here

On Wednesday night at 6pm, we'll also ask businesses to join us for our Business Hour on the Border Mail Facebook page.

We'll be pinning a post to our page at 6pm each Wednesday for the next four weeks where businesses can comment and tell our thousands of Facebook followers what they are doing in their return to business.

Please, if you are a local business opening your doors, register for our Back In Business directory and join us for our Business Hour on the Mercury Facebook page at 6pm on Wednesday.