Hotels looking for Qld to ease coronavirus restrictions further and stop being COVID Cops

Staff and management in Queensland hotels have been ingloriously titled COVID Cops but that’s about to change with restrictions being eased.

Normanby owner Jaz Mooney (left) and Shaun Dunleavy at the newly-renovated Normanby Hotel in Red Hill. It has one of the biggest beer gardens in inner Brisbane. The hotel will be allowed one patron per 2 sqm in its beet garden from this weekend. Picture: Richard Walker

Hotel staff and management in Queensland will no longer be referred to as COVID Cops after the easing of coronavirus restrictions, but the industry wants more changes.

From 4pm Friday, patrons were permitted to stand while eating and drinking as the Queensland government loosened its grip on public gatherings.

Outdoor restrictions have eased to one person per 2 sqm from 4 sqm and outdoor events can double in capacity from 500 to 1000.

Queensland Hotels Association Chief Executive Bernie Hogan told NCA NewsWire they welcomed patrons finally being able to stand while socialising and will push to have more patrons allowed inside venues.

“The ability to stand in a licensed venue has always been very difficult for us to work with and more than anything it has put a strain on our staff having to police people,” Mr Hogan said.

“The term COVID Cops has been used too many times and this will ease the pressure on staff and management and that’s a real step forward.

“As you go through the other easing of restrictions, there is not too much in relation to the hospitality sector and that is something we will talk to the government about and when can we get 2sqm in an indoor environment.”

Stage 5 restrictions start on November 1 and provide for the full reopening of the NSW border on the proviso there is no community transmission in NSW for the preceding 28 days.

However, there are no more easing of restrictions for Queensland’s hotels and clubs who are limited to one person per 4 sqm inside a venue.

Queensland Hotels Association Chief Executive Bernie Hogan says they want the government to consider one person per 2 sqm inside a venue while they maintain a high level of hygiene and collect details for contact tracing. Picture: Supplied

Clubs Queensland CEO Kelly Egan says the no-standing restrictions were tough for staff to police and he welcomes the easing of restrictions. Picture: Supplied

Mr Hogan said said hotels would continue to collect the personal details of patrons for contact tracing purposes, insist on social distancing and hygiene protocols while providing hand sanitiser.

Clubs Queensland has supported Mr Hogan in his requests for the government to allow more people indoors.

Clubs Queensland CEO Kelly Egan said permitting one person per 2sq m outdoors became problematic when they wanted to head inside where it was only one person per 4 sqm.

He said it had been trying times for the industry and the latest easing of restrictions was a major step forward.

“Allowing people to stand takes away the onus on staff trying to do the right thing under trying circumstances,” Mr Egan said.

“However, not every club venue has an outdoor beer garden and outdoor accessible areas as the bulk of them aren't set up in that capacity.

“We’re completely committed to contact tracing, hygiene and social distancing but we still then have the complication of people moving from outside to inside because the density changes.”

Stage 6 restrictions commence at 1am on December 1 and will allow for 50 people to gather in homes and public spaces while outdoor events would increase from 1000 to 1500, and unlimited dancing will be permitted at weddings with a COVID-safe plan.