Sunshine Coast restaurants: Owners welcome news lockdown restrictions ease from 4pm

A Sunshine Coast restaurant owner was inundated with phone bookings after it was confirmed lockdown would ease from 4pm. Here’s what you’re allowed to do under the new restrictions.

Owners of Cinque Terre Ines Cabros and Salvatore Zedde celebrate the lifting of the Sunshine Coast lockdown.

Ines Cabras and Salvatore Zedde celebrated news they could welcome diners back into their Italian restaurant from 4pm Sunday.

After eight days of lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19, restrictions will ease from 4pm for South East Queensland.

Businesses including cafes and restaurants can reopen with capacity restrictions of one person per four square metres.

Sunshine Beach Italian restaurant Cinque Terre owners Mr Zedde and Mrs Cabras said they couldn't be more excited.

“Being restricted to takeaway was difficult for us and for many of the restaurants in the area,” Mrs Cabras said.

“It’s great for us and it’s great for the people who are excited to get out of their homes.

“We are really happy that people can dine out in restaurants once again and enjoy themselves.”

Mrs Cabras said phone bookings for this week came in quickly after the lockdown announcement was made.

“It’s great to have people ringing up and helping get things back to normal,” she said.

A survey of Visit Sunshine Coast members showed revenue for the week had already fallen by more than 80 per cent for most operators.

The survey showed members across the Coast’s tourism spectrum from accommodation, attractions, tour operators, retail and hospitality all reported mass cancellations.

Visit Sunshine Coast chief executive Matt Stoeckel said the latest lockdown had been devastating for already hard-hit operators from Caloundra to Noosa.

While the lockdown will lift some restrictions will remain in place for the 11 local government authorities including Sunshine Coast and Noosa.

Up to 10 people will be allowed to meet at a home or outdoors.

Community sport will not be permitted for the next fortnight, but hospital visits will be.

People out walking by themselves will not have to wear masks, but people will have to at all other times, except for when sitting and eating.

Schools will reopen but all school staff, including early childhood staff, and all high school students would need to wear masks.

People will be able to travel in their areas, but have been asked not to travel to regional Queensland from the southeast.

Mrs Cabras said it would be great to have their staff working their normal hours in the coming days.

“It was hard on our staff as we had to cut back on a lot of their hours,” she said.

“Hearing this news about the lockdown being lifted is really great for everyone I think.”

The Italian restaurant opened in 2017 and has become a Sunshine Beach favourite with its pizza making classes.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast restaurants: Owners welcome news lockdown restrictions ease from 4pm