Despite several Launceston premises having to close their doors at the weekend after being listed as COVID casual contact spots, business owners were happy to play ball.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The contact spots were listed on the Tasmanian Public Health site list after a former Launceston General Hospital employee tested positive to COVID-19 upon moving to London, England.
The listings were revealed early on Saturday before the affected premises were contacted to inform them of their status.
Any workers who had been at the site at any specified times were told to isolate immediately and return a negative COVID-19 test before they could re-enter the community.
Ten small businesses across Launceston city were on the list including cafes Earthy Eats and Sweetbrew.
Earthy Eats owner Laura Danderian took to social media to explain the financial ramifications of having to shut their doors.
Speaking on Sunday, Ms Danderian said while the cafe was not open on Sunday, having to close for Saturday and potentially Monday would her business would take a $5000 hit.
Earthy Eats became one of the most impacted premises with eight of its 11 staff needing to be tested.
Sweetbrew owner Archana Brammell, who is also the Launceston Chamber of Commerce director, said her cafe also had a majority of her staff needing to be tested.
Ms Brammell said Tasmanian premier Peter Gutwein had personally reached out to her on Saturday to inform her of the cafe's listing.
"He was very understanding and responsive. We need leaders now with elements of kindness," she said.
Ms Brammell heralded the response from the government as a whole and said it was important the community took the risk seriously.
Ms Danderian and Ms Brammell now await an announcement about what the government will provide businesses in a way of financial support after the loss of business at the weekend.
The government announced on Saturday sliding measured would be offered relevant to each business.
Ms Brammell said she had no expectations on what they would be but was thankful it was even a consideration.
"Whatever it is it'll be better than anywhere else in the world where people have to wait so long to get so little," she said.
In the meantime, both Ms Danderian and Ms Brammell called on the community to maintain an impressive commitment to help out local traders.
Ms Danderian said as soon as it was revealed Earthy Eats would be impacted customers had jumped onto their website to book ahead or order from the shop.
Ms Brammell said she hoped the community would embrace the affected premises and make a point of visiting them during the week.
Off Center Coffee, St John's Craft Beer Bar, Beta Park Bouldering, The Tasmanian Artisan Shop, Kingsway Barber, VegOut on Charles, Aspire Adventure Equipment and Launceston Lanes were also impacted by the casual exposure listings.
It was understood staff had been tested on Saturday and were told there would be a wait between 24 and 48 hours before their testes were returned. At time of publication a number of staff were awaiting their results.
Tasmanian Small Business Council chief executive Robert Mallett said the affected business could consider themselves unlucky to have been embroiled in the exposure sites.
Mr Mallett said he was interested in seeing how the government responded in regard to support measures after seeing East coast businesses suffer from road closures from May 28 until July 8.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.examiner.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @examineronline
- Follow us on Instagram: @examineronline
- Follow us on Google News: The Examiner
What do you think? Send us a letter to the editor: