When restrictions allowed Sporties Hotel owner Nick Daking to invite customers back into the restaurant, his staff quickly enforced the required COVID-safety measurements, including social distancing and contact tracing.
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Mr Daking said that some patrons weren't taking the requirements as seriously as they should.
"We've had Batman and Robin visit the bar a couple of times," Mr Daking said.
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"Beer o'clock is a popular time to visit, and ScoMo has visited twice already this week.
"I didn't know the Prime Minister was in the state, but apparently he really likes our parmis."
Mr Daking said that while contact tracing is a venue requirement, it is hard to ensure that what people write down is accurate.
"You have to have trust in the people that visit your venue, but sometimes they don't give you the full truth, and it's hard to police," Mr Daking said.
"People can and do write down things that aren't accurate, which means if there was a positive case in Tasmania that visited it's hard to track down people who were in the area."
Sporties Hotel is one of the first venues to sign up for a free trial of a new app, Book Eat Safe.
Created by Launceston based business Autech, the app intends to provide a safe and easy way for hospitality venues to trace people's information.
Autech chief executive officer Darren Alexander said it filled a gap in the market.
"Different venues have different ways of getting people's information, but it is hard to manage," Mr Alexander said.
"While it's a requirement, there's no guarantee to the authenticity of the information provide, and there isn't anything to stop people from copying down people's mobile numbers from sheets inside bars and restaurants.
"What the app does is take down the details for everyone who is in a group, and stores it safely and securely.
"Hospitality venues get the basic information for the booking, and if there is a confirmed case that has visited their venue, can easily contact us and we can send the information about patrons in any timeframe to the Health Department.
"It will take the stress out of contact tracing for venues, and be a useful resource for visitors to the state to find out what venues are open."
The first 100 businesses to sign up will get a four month free trial, with the ability to adopt in or out at the end.
The app will be available to download November 4 on the Google or Apple app stores.
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Ebony Abblitt
Ebony Abblitt is a features writer at the Examiner in Launceston, with an interest in pets, politics and people. | ebony.abblitt@examiner.com.au
Ebony Abblitt is a features writer at the Examiner in Launceston, with an interest in pets, politics and people. | ebony.abblitt@examiner.com.au
