Cairns restaurant Ochre owner imports RATs from Singapore
A leading Cairns restaurateur is importing rapid antigen tests for staff in a bid to keep his doors open – and he fears authorities may change the rules further.
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THE owner of a prominent Cairns restaurant has imported rapid antigen tests (RATs) from Singapore to stay afloat as Covid hits Cairns.
Ochre Restaurant director Craig Squire said check-ins were pointless and he is concerned national cabinet may decide three jabs constitutes being fully vaccinated.
He used a family contact to get the RAT tests, which cost $4.17 each.
“They are widely available over there, as they are in most of South East Asia – I believe you can buy them from vending machines in Japan and South Korea,” Mr Squire said.
“Staff that are 20-something went out over Christmas and New Year and got Covid and they were having to wait three to four days for PCR test results.”
He said one week he was only able to open for three days out of seven due to staff shortages, and had to call people and cancel bookings.
He said restaurants were the only retail sector being penalised and wants the check-in scrapped as well as the mandate that only vaccinated patrons can dine.
“This ruling is having a detrimental effect on our trading, in what is already a loss making time,” Mr Squire said.
“Many potential customers are calling to check and we have to turn them away.
Mr Squire said he lost potential trade due to very slow test results and the scarcity of RATs, which impacted staff availability.
“I have imported my own RATs from Singapore quicker than waiting for pharmacies to be stocked,” he said.
“Isn’t that an indictment on the ineptitude and lack of foresight by both levels of government.”
He said close contact was now defined as four hours or more in a homelike setting – and few patrons spent four hours in a restaurant.
“Restaurants and cafes should be separated in a risk category from clubs and pubs where people stand and drink and shout into each other’s faces,” Mr Squire said.
He said he was advised by Queensland Health restaurants were considered high risk but food courts were more transient environments.
“Food courts have random large amounts of people intermingling in an uncontrolled environment where surfaces are not cleaned all the time between different diners,” he said.
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Originally published as Cairns restaurant Ochre owner imports RATs from Singapore
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