RESTAURANTS and cafes will throw open their indoor dining spaces tomorrow in what has been described as major step in revitalising the crippled hospitality sector.
While patrons dining in at cafes from tomorrow will also be able to enjoy alcoholic drinks, operators will only be allowed to seat 20 people at a time.
There will be a maximum of 10 people outside and 10 patrons inside at any hospitality venue.
The new measures come as the state records only one new case in the past 28 days and government accelerates local jobs and business recovery.
Cafe manager Carly Sargeant – from Sorrentos Cafe – said she was thrilled the cafe’s mothballed dining area would be reopened to the public.
“This is great news, it means we can get back to operating half normally,” Ms Sargeant said.
“We are feeling a little bit more optimistic and hopefully it will not be too much longer and we can seat more people.”
Given the devastating restrictions, she said it was “about time” these measures were lifted to breathe life into the stifled hospitality sector.
“We want to be open for business and sit people inside, especially coming up to winter,” the hospitality worker said.
“We have had people come out and enjoy outside dining since the restrictions lifted and they do understand if we have to turn them away given the restrictions.
Ms Sargeant said patrons were being encouraged to book given the seating limitations.
“We are also doing limited times for bookings to turn over the tables,” she said.
Premier Steven Marshall said yesterday South Australians’ ongoing success in helping limit the spread of COVID-19 had enabled the hovernment to further ease restrictions on advice of the transition committee.
“This is all about accelerating local economic and jobs recovery, while rewarding South Australians for their outstanding efforts over many weeks in helping stop the spread of this virus,” Mr Marshall said.
“We know thousands of small businesses and their employees have been doing it incredibly tough recently, through no fault of their own and my government is committed to working with them to ensure they get back to business as quickly and as safely as possible.”
“By bringing forward the ability for restaurants and cafes to offer indoor dining and serve alcoholic beverages to Friday, we will further support our hospitality sector as it recovers from the greatest economic challenge of our time.
“Hotels can also look forward to opening earlier than scheduled to capitalise on the entire June long weekend, which will bring a further economic and morale boost for South Australians.”
Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said South Australia’s world-class testing regime, decisive action in closing our borders and the community’s acceptance of COVID-19 restrictions has made us one of the safest places in the world
South Australia has not had any new COVID cases for almost a fortnight despite increasing numbers of South Australians being tested.
Mr Wade said this placed the state in a position to allow indoor dining in restaurants and cafes.
“Just seven weeks ago as the pandemic was sweeping into Australia the prospect of South Australians enjoying a meal out with friends seemed very remote indeed.,” Mr Wade said.
“Whilst the return of indoor dining and the option of having a drink with your meal is a welcome step towards normality, we must not become complacent about the ongoing need to protect ourselves and each other from COVID-19.”
He said other countries had experienced second waves of coronavirus infections after seemingly having beaten the virus.
Other states of Australia are still recording both new cases and community transition.
“Cafes and restaurants will need to follow strict hygiene procedures when reopening. I urge all South Australians to continue to practice the personal health measures that have bought us so much success in controlling COVID-19,” Mr Wade said.
