There has been clarification around the new easing of restrictions for cafes, restaurants and food courts today through council from the NSW Government.

That clarification is hurting our small businesses, when the easing of restrictions was supposed to help them.

Lismore City Council sent an email to small business owners who own cafes and restaurants outlining what their obligations are in order to serve people food and drink in their places of business based on what the NSW State Government website states.

They are outlined here;

Cafes and restaurants may open with restrictions.

• Capacity must not exceed 50 customers or one customer per 4 square metres in an existing seated dining area, whichever is the lesser.
• Bookings can only be to a maximum of 10 people.
• Anyone entering the premises must provide their name and contact details, including a telephone number or email address.
• Operators must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan and keep a record of all people entering the premises.

Tables and chairs in food courts are not to be used for the consumption of food or drinks.

Looks pretty simple at first glance but then questions get asked that cause confusion or frustration;

• I am sitting alone outside do I have to give my name and phone number or email address? Yes you do.
• Does every person have to be 1.5 metres away from the next person? Yes they do.
• What if we are from the same family? It doesn't matter, you still need to sit 1.5 metres away from each other.

This is where the frustration sets in.

Seven family members can sit and drive in the same car, not 1.5 metres away from each other, but when they go into a restaurant or cafe they have to sit opposite each other and not next to each other unless they are 1.5 metres away.

Or, you can have people over to your house from another family, say ten people in total if both families have five people, but if you choose to eat out you need to sit 1.5 metres away from each other.

What about school? We have 1,000 children at some of our schools, do we honestly think they are 1.5 metres away from each other at all times?

The Lismore App has spoken to four small business owners today who have had people walk away today either because they didn't want to give their name and contact details or because they couldn't sit together at a table. Some owners are saying that they are better to go back to takeaway options only as there are only two people running the business so logistically it doesn't make sense to spend time taking down personal details of people intending to sit down for a meal.

The NSW Government has a tough job to keep coronavirus under control, that everyone accepts, but the easing of restrictions has caused more confusion, frustration and troubles for our local businesses than it did before restrictions were eased.