The rising number of Covid-19 positive cases in Queenstown has resulted in hospitality businesses being forced to close, despite not being locations of interest.
Cases of Covid-19 in the Queenstown Lakes District increased again on Tuesday with 22 new cases bringing the total number of active cases to 56.
Future Hospitality Group co-owners James Ace and Bert Haines face having to close all four of their hospitality venues by the weekend, having shut three already.
Of the company’s 35 staff, eight are isolating and several are awaiting the results of Covid-19 tests after the pandemic hit the small town last week.
Republic Hospitality Group chief executive Blair Impey said he was forced to close nine of the group’s 11 bars, eateries and venues in Queenstown on the weekend.
Visits by two customers made at least 16 staff close contacts. One staff member had since tested positive for Covid-19.
There are not enough staff available to work and no-one available to be hired as new crew.
The situation was worse than any lockdown as the businesses still had costs to pay, and no way of earning anything, he said.
The number of Covid-19 positive cases in Queenstown has risen sharply for a second day running as some hospitality businesses are forced to close, despite not being locations of interest.
Cases of Covid-19 in the Queenstown Lakes District increased again on Tuesday with 22 new cases bringing the total number of active cases to 56.
There were 332 close contacts isolating in the district, according to the Southern District Health Board.
Several new locations of interest were also named in Queenstown, including McDonald’s in the town centre, which was visited by a Covid-19 positive patron between 1.17am and 2.30am on February 8.
People who were there at the same time are considered close contacts.
The sites where patrons are considered casual contacts from February 7 are: Joe’s Garage Queenstown between 10.15am and 11am; Holiday Inn Cafe, Frankton, between 9.30am and 10.30am; Holiday Inn Hotel Restaurant, Frankton, between 7.30am and 9am; Queenstown Events Centre between 4.26pm and 7.30pm; Rainbow Doorways Arrowtown between 2.34 pm and 2.45 pm; Time Tripper Queenstown between 1.28pm and 2.15pm and Fogo Brazilian BBQ Experience Queenstown between 11am and 11.30pm.
Patrons who visited Pog Mahones Irish Pub & Restaurant, previously asked to self-monitor if they visited on February 7 between 5pm and 7pm, are asked to self-isolate and test immediately if they were at the venue between 12.45am and 2.45pm that day.
Turkish Cuisine Restaurant, in Queenstown Mall, was visited on February 6 between 10.14pm and 11pm.
