All three venues in Tathra listed on Friday morning as exposure sites for COVID-19 found out via media posting the news to Facebook.
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The Bega District News was sent the daily COVID-19 statistics and advice just after 11am Friday, publishing the details to our website by 11.30am.
It soon became apparent that neither the Tathra Friendly Grocer, Wharf Local cafe nor Fat Tony's Bar and Grill had been informed prior to this announcement through local media outlets and a Local Health District social media post.
By 1pm the Wharf Locavore owners said they were still yet to have or make contact with Southern NSW Local Health District over their listing as a venue of concern.
The same went for the Friendly Grocer, which apologised for the inconvenience of having to close at short notice - "we just found out via Facebook that we have become a venue of concern".
And a clearly frustrated Ant Little from Fat Tony's took to the popular restaurant's own Facebook page to apologise to patrons for the short notice that he would have to close for Friday and Saturday night's sittings for staff testing and venue cleaning.
"I'm sure we'll get back next week when we all get negative tests, but it's just painful to be doing this all again," Ant told the BDN.
"I've been calling it the COVID lottery for a while now - our number's come up again."
He also wondered if businesses will have to keep closing anytime there's a exposure scare even after the state opens up further come December 1, with unvaccinated people then able to enjoy the same "freedoms" as those double vaxxed.
"Is this what's going to keep happening? Where's the point when you can sleep at night without worrying that, yes we can be open, but if someone comes in with COVID, you [staff] could potentially be passing it along to someone who then dies?" Ant said.
A Southern NSW Local Health District spokesperson said Public Health announces venues of concern publicly as soon as possible so that anyone who may have come into contact with COVID-19 can immediately isolate and get tested.
"Businesses are called asap, concurrently with this process of public notification. The highest risk venues are called first.
"It is inevitable with so many venues of concern that some businesses find out through the media before receiving official contact from Public Health."
Click here for the latest information and advice on COVID-19 from the SNSWLHD.
Anyone who visited one of these venues at the times listed is a casual contact and must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received. Staff will be contacted separately by SNSWLHD's Public Health Unit regarding their testing and isolation requirements.
- Tathra The Wharf Locavore - Friday 1 October, 9.35am to 10.05am; Saturday 2 October 8.50am to 9.20am; Sunday 3 October, 8.45am to 9.15am
- Tathra Friendly Grocer - Saturday 2 October, 3.45pm to 4.45pm
- Tathra Fat Tony's Bar Grill - Friday 1 October, 7.20pm to 9.20pm
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