Mail on hold as Covid forces closure of Lenah Valley Newsagency and Post Office
Covid has claimed another small business, with a suburban newsagency and post office closing for a week after it was a close contact site for a positive case. LIST OF CLOSED BUSINESSES >>
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THE popular Lenah Valley Newsagency and Post Office has closed for a week due to Covid.
Michelle Carney, who owns the business with her husband John, said their son had tested positive after working at a Hobart hotel on New Year’s Eve, where he most likely contracted the virus.
“He has been isolating downstairs away from us and has only mild symptoms. He’s fine but the shop will be closed for seven days,” Ms Carney said.
“Both John and I have had rapid tests and are negative, which is reassuring that our vaccination and booster is doing its job.
“But to be safe we would suggest everyone monitor for symptoms and get tested if you develop even the mildest of symptoms as this virus is spreading quickly.”
Ms Carney was appreciative customers wore masks and grateful for the community’s support in closing the newsagency and post office.
“A big thank you to all the people who wore masks in the shop or went back to their car to grab one,” she said.
“This scenario is an example of why they tell us to do it.
“For anyone who has parcels currently awaiting collection at the shop, arrangements have been made to transfer them to Moonah on Monday to be available to collect that afternoon.
“If anyone needs any assistance in the meantime please feel free to message us or email and we will do what we can.
“The outpouring of support from the community has been amazing. We love our Lenah Valley community.”
Covid claims another event as festival runs out of steam
A CHERISHED small-town festival has been canned by organisers after their lengthy talks about coronavirus.
An event bringing together enthusiasts to celebrate Tasmania’s rich steam engineering history will not go ahead on the March long weekend as planned.
Organisers announced on Friday the annual SteamFest in Sheffield was taking a break in 2022 after running for 28 years.
“At a recent meeting of the SteamFest organising committee the current Covid-19 situation was discussed at length,” the committee said.
“The committee arrived at the very difficult conclusion to cancel SteamFest for
this year to not add to the spread of the pandemic and to protect the many members and volunteers who run the event from potential exposure.”
The SteamFest committee said going ahead with the event would have posed the risk of key organisers or exhibitors needing to isolate, which could have compromised the viability of the festival.
“This year’s event was to feature the largest collection of steam rollers ever seen in Tasmania and a significant first – the running of Wee Georgie Wood outside of Tullah for the first time in its long and prestigious life,” the committee said.
“The committee looks forward to presenting an even larger event next year with these special attractions when more certainty returns to the community.
“The committee is planning a smaller ‘get together’ of steam people and engines once the Covid-19 situation is under control and this will be open to the public.”
It comes as holiday childcare programs, department stores, restaurants, cafes and tourism ventures either shut or reduce their services.
Some are doing so pre-emptively to protect staff and customers from Covid-19, while other have been forced to shut with too many staff required to isolate.
These are just some venues changing their service mode or shutting their doors.
Temporarily closed
Bar Wa Izakaya, Hobart. Some staff at the Japanese restaurant were self-isolating due to coming into contact with positive Covid-19 cases. The owner closed the restaurant as a precaution with plans to reopen next week.
Frank Restaurant and Bar, Hobart. Will close on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to “ease the pressure on our staff”. Will require all patrons 12 and over to provide proof of at least double vaccination.
Born in Brunswick, North Hobart. After trying to work with restricted staff in accordance with their Covid-safety plan, one of Tassie’s most popular brunch spots has closed until further notice.
Fox Friday, Hobart. The craft brewery next door to Urban Greek has closed until further notice, citing “Covid-related issues” in a Facebook post.
Shambles Brewery, North Hobart. A staff shortage has closed the local brewery indefinitely.
Rin, North Hobart. The Japanese restaurant has closed its doors “until further notice”, according to their Facebook page. The owner told the Mercury a family member had returned a positive rapid antigen test and close-contact staff were isolating while awaiting their PCR results.
Pilgrim Coffee, Hobart. The cafe will remain shut until at least Monday as some staff have become contacts for the virus, and the owner said staff felt uncomfortable serving hospital workers and putting them at risk.
T42, Hobart. The waterfront bar will remain shut until at least January 14 as several key staff are sick with coronavirus.
Reopened
Cascade Brewery, South Hobart. A Covid case had shut the brewery on New Year’s Day, but the business reopened on Wednesday.
Urban Greek, Hobart. Three kitchen staff had tested positive, but the restaurant will reopen on Sunday evening.
Holiday childcare program shuts amid Covid
A POPULAR North Hobart pub and a holiday childcare program are among the latest services to shut because of coronavirus, but some small businesses are using inventive means to persevere.
Shambles Brewery and Born in Brunswick have closed their doors until further notice.
“Our staffing shortage has worsened,” a Shambles Facebook post said.
“You can still grab our cans at a bunch of great bottle shops across the state, and hopefully we’ll be able to welcome you back to our venue soon.”
Born in Brunswick said it had been “hit with the pressures of rising Covid-19 cases” in a Facebook post.
Frank Restaurant and Bar on the Hobart waterfront has announced it will close for two days each week “to ease the pressure on our staff and the business”.
A Facebook post on Thursday said it would shut on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and would also require every patron aged 12 or over to provide proof of double vaccination to be allowed to enter and that masks are mandatory.
It comes as Clarence City Council decided to cease its school holiday childcare program at Lindisfarne and Montagu Bay from Monday through to January 24.
The program will run in a reduced format from Montagu Bay for the remainder of the week, serving essential workers and parents who cannot make alternative plans.
But some businesses are determined to pull through.
Botanical Kate Sice Florist managed to reopen on Thursday, albeit with a new socially distanced business model.
Shoppers are now asked to stay outside the building, and flowers are brought out by staff members for them to sniff and inspect.
Florist Andrew Low said it was a difficult arrangement, but that he simply could not afford to have an outbreak in his flower shop.
He said going on hiatus for even one week would mean that he would have to throw out his entire stock of fresh flowers.
More importantly, Mr Low said he could not bear the thought of any of his workers catching Covid.
“If we can minimise the risk as much as we can for our staff and family – and our staff are very much like our family – we will grab hold of it with two hands,” Mr Low said.
“We do want to stay open. Babies are still being born, people are still having birthdays, and flowers are a medium to express emotion. That’s the beauty of flowers.”
After closing on New Year’s Day, Cascade Brewery has reopened for business and thanked customers for their patience via Facebook.
Bar Wa Izakaya has hinted at unbolting its doors, after the dramatically shutting on Monday.
The Japanese restaurant owners questioned why borders had reopened, plastering a sign in their window saying to the Premier: “Peter: remind me of the upside again. Asking for a friend.”
The restaurant’s Facebook page posted an update on Wednesday thanking followers for their support.
“We are all taking a well-earned rest for the next couple of days with the idea of being open some time next week in one way or another if we have the staff available to do so,” the Facebook post read.
“We will be doing this in the best and safest way possible for you, our staff and families.”
Tavern 42 Degrees South had hoped to welcome customers back on Wednesday but will remain shut until at least January 14 amid more staff – including the owners – testing positive.
T42 said in a Facebook post their “last few” uninfected staff would help out at nearby waterfront venue Billy’s Burgers and Bar in the interim.
These are just some venues changing their service mode or shutting their doors.
Temporarily closed
Bar Wa Izakaya, Hobart. Some staff at the Japanese restaurant were self-isolating due to coming into contact with positive Covid-19 cases. The owner closed the restaurant as a precaution with plans to reopen next week.
Frank Restaurant and Bar, Hobart. Will close on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to “ease the pressure on our staff”. Will require all patrons 12 and over to provide proof of at least double vaccination.
Born in Brunswick, North Hobart. After trying to work with restricted staff in accordance with their Covid-safety plan, one of Tassie’s most popular brunch spots has closed until further notice.
Fox Friday, Hobart. The craft brewery next door to Urban Greek has closed until further notice, citing “Covid-related issues” in a Facebook post.
Shambles Brewery, North Hobart. A staff shortage has closed the local brewery indefinitely.
Rin, North Hobart. The Japanese restaurant has closed its doors “until further notice”, according to their Facebook page. The owner told the Mercury a family member had returned a positive rapid antigen test and close-contact staff were isolating while awaiting their PCR results.
Pilgrim Coffee, Hobart. The cafe will remain shut until at least Monday as some staff have become contacts for the virus, and the owner said staff felt uncomfortable serving hospital workers and putting them at risk.
Urban Greek, Hobart. Three kitchen staff have tested positive, while the owner hopes to reopen on Sunday.
T42, Hobart. The waterfront bar will remain shut until at least January 14 as several key staff are sick with coronavirus.
Reopened
Cascade Brewery, South Hobart. A Covid case had shut the brewery on New Year’s Day, but the business reopened on Wednesday.
Holiday childcare program shuts: Covid slams more businesses
Clarence City Council has made the decision to close its childcare program during school holidays, citing staff shortages as the pandemic reaches new heights.
The Clarence Children’s Services Holiday Care Programs in Lindisfarne and Montagu Bay will be closed from Monday, Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman said.
“We understand that this will have a significant impact to many in our community, especially as it is during the school holiday period,” he said.
“However, the health and safety of both our educators and the families who use our services comes first and we need to do all we can to minimise the spread of Covid-19 across our community.”
The holiday programs were expected to reopen on January 24, depending on staff availability.
The council said there were no positive coronavirus cases at either site.
Before the impending closure, the program will operate in a reduced capacity from Montagu Bay for essential workers and parents who cannot make alternative plans.
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