Community urged to support Covid-exposed businesses amid growing list of sites

Is it safe to attend a shop, restaurant or market if it has been listed as a Covid exposure site? Affected businesses explain how they have kept their premises safe >>

Sam Stewart has noticed a drop in customer bookings since coronavirus arrived in the state.

The Alchemy Bar and Restaurant venue manager said bookings had been toppling for the Launceston venue since Monday.

“Today’s our biggest day of the year and being listed as an exposure site put a pause on people wanting to come in,” Mr Stewart said on Wednesday.

“Tradies knock off on Thursday but I think people will avoid being in public bars and social sites.”

Alchemy is a casual contact Covid-exposed site for those who visited between 2.46pm and 4.16pm last Friday.

Outside those times, Mr Stewart said the bar was safe to enter.

“We’re on a really strict cleaning schedule,” he said.

“We’ve all returned a negative test.”

Alchemy Bar and Restaurant venue manager Sam Stewart. Picture: Supplied

Mr Stewart said staff would continue testing regularly and follow the rules.

“It’s a safe place to be, as long as you follow the rules because this is going to be the new normal,” the publican said.

In Bellerive, Groundsman Espresso was listed as a casual contact site for just 10 minutes between 8.09 and 8.19am on Friday.

Cameron Smith owns the shop with his partner Richard Gerlach and said they have noticed a “wonderful Christmas spirit” on the Eastern Shore despite the scare.

“(We received) wonderful messages of support from our customers and even other local cafes in the area since the casual contact incident,” he said.

Premier Peter Gutwein encourages Tasmanians to continue visiting businesses on the Covid-exposure site list. Only those who visited sites during the listed times on the Public Health website need to take action regarding coronavirus. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mr Smith said all staff members received negative test results, as did all other contacts who attended the store at that time.

Premier Peter Gutwein urged Tasmanians to continue supporting local businesses.

“If a site’s been listed as low risk then that’s exactly what it is – it’s low risk,” he said.

“In terms of even sites that have been listed as casual contact sites where a positive case was there only for a short period of time, the public should return to those businesses.

“I encourage people to continue to shop and go about their business, but importantly continue to keep an eye on the website in terms of the listing of those sites and importantly also the Check-in Tas app.”

Tasmanian Small Business Council executive officer Robert Mallett. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Tasmanian Small Business Council executive officer Robert Mallett said businesses were prepared for the virus.

“The Covid-safety plans of every business should be such that the business ends up cleaning appropriately, has good policies in place and is safe,” he said.

“Customers should feel confident going to every business but they need to wear their mask inside, expect the staff to be wearing their masks inside and to make sure they check in.”

For a list of exposure sites visit coronavirus.tas.gov.au