Northern restaurant group shuts up shop: ‘People weren’t realising the severity of what was going on’

A Tasmanian restaurant group has stood down 112 staff in a stand against the spread of coronavirus.

A RESTAURANT group has closed some of Launceston’s most popular restaurants and stood-down 112 staff as the state and nation strengthen measures to quell the spread of coronavirus.

Karen Burbury, CEO and director of Eski Group, which owns Cataract on Patterson, Rupert and Hound and Marjorie’s Cafe and Restaurant at Woolmers Estate, was optimistic that businesses might continue last week after the Government closed Tasmania’s border.

But, after speaking with Premier Peter Gutwein on Saturday morning, she decided to close her businesses that day.

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The decision was made after asking the Premier what the business could do to help flatten the curve of new coronavirus cases.

“We just had to do the right thing and shut,” Mrs Burbury said.

“People weren’t realising the severity of what was going on.

“There were about 50 patrons at Rupert and Hound for lunch at one time on Friday.

“I think us shutting on Saturday night maybe made the community really aware that everyone has to chip in and do their bit at the moment and social distancing has to happen.”

Mrs Burbury said she was prepared for closure.

“I was told by my doctor about four weeks ago to get prepared.

“I ordered 112 flu injections three weeks ago because it was suggested that that may help my team.

Restaurant owner Karen Burbury has stood down her 112 staff to help stop the spread of coronavirus. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Mrs Burbury said her staff were predominantly part-time, full-time or salaried and had entitlements including annual leave banked.

“Whatever you’re entitled to, you will be paid.”

Mrs Burbury said she has worked closely to financially mentor her casual staff.

Her core management staff will continue to work from home on “jobs that normally fall on top of us in busy times”.

Over the weekend the staff packed down and sanitised the restaurants ready to open again some time in the future.

Leftover food, stock and produce was donated to staff, City Mission, the homeless and other restaurants.

Staff cooked up gummy shark and other produce and delivered it hot to a soup kitchen.

“I just donated it to them because we had it in our cool rooms and I wanted it used.”

Mrs Burbury donated heat bags to three restaurants that will deliver their food now in order to stay afloat.

She said her priority now was the safety of her staff.

“The sooner we could get the restaurants packed down, cleaned up and shut down properly, then the sooner they could be off into self-isolation,” she said.

Mrs Burbury said it was a “heartbreaking” time for everyone, but the community needed to adhere to Public Health and Government messaging.

“Stay at home. If you don’t need to be out, stay at home.

“If we can really get people to abide by the rules and stay at home and do the right thing, then I think that Tasmania will bounce back a lot quicker and I think Tasmania as a state has a really bright future if we can get a hold of this now.”