Businesses brace for third Covid wave
Cafe owner: 2022 has ‘definitely been the hardest’
Rotorua business operators are steeling themselves for the next few months, battling rising costs, staff sickness and a shortage of workers as a medical expert says there is “no question” the country is experiencing a third wave of Covid-19 cases.
One owner said this year had been the hardest yet as she also grappled with last-minute cancellations due to people testing positive, saying another lockdown would be “devastating”.
An event organiser, however, said the last two years had prepared them for any significant outbreak and they were “ready to press go” on this summer’s events.
The latest Ministry of Health figures showed case numbers in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes areas jumped in the two weeks to November 20.
Bay of Plenty cases climbed from 442 between October 1 and 7 to 669 between November 15 and 20. In Rotorua, cases rose from 225 between October 1 and 7 to 343 between November 15 and 20.
There were 2327 cases reported in the Bay of Plenty in October. This month, up to November 20, there were 2020 cases.
In the Lakes area, there were 1180 cases reported in October. Up to November 20, there were 988 cases.
So far this year there have been 85,983 reported cases in the Bay of Plenty and another 38,636 in the Lakes area.
Alina Choufasia who, with her husband Shail, owns Rotorua cafe and bar Abracadabra and The Strawhouse Cafe in Taupo¯, said this year had brought extra difficulty, having to cope rising costs on top of Covid’s impacts, such as large bookings being cancelled at the last minute due to someone in the group testing positive.
“It was quite challenging during the previous two lockdowns, but this year had definitely been the hardest year for us and currently we have two staff off with Covid at our Rotorua business.
“Another lockdown
would devastating, but fortunately we have two businesses so at least we can bounce one off the other a little bit.”
Alina said there was no doubt many small businesses were struggling with staff shortages due to Covid illness, even as international tourists and domestic visitors were returning.
“How we manage if there was another big surge in Covid cases really depends on what restrictions the Government puts on us. For us, the problem is we have different dining areas and the rules can be quite unclear.
“To be honest it’s quite horrible not to be in full control of your business, and another lockdown does not bear thinking about. But you have to stay positive and carry on as best you can.”
Gregg Brown, who owns Capers
Cafe and Store and Pig and Whistle, said it had been tough for the past two years due to the impacts of Covid and rising costs.
“Fortunately, we have been able to maintain our staffing levels and it’s all about us holding it together and doing as much as we can to manage whatever comes.”
Brown, who is also a Rotorua Lakes councillor, said it was “hard” to operate a contactless takeaway service and/or delivery service as they didn’t have the equipment to do so, and it was not a “very profitable” way to run the business.
He said the impact of another wave of cases and restriction would depend on a number of factors, including what support there was from the Government.
Brown also said he would not like to see a return of the maskwearing mandate as he believed it should be left up to personal choice.
Last month the Government changed Covid-19 response legislation to remove its powers to implement lockdowns, vaccine mandates and managed isolation or quarantine. It kept the ability to require positive cases to isolate for seven days, mask use in some healthcare settings and to set conditions for those travelling to New Zealand.
Another lockdown would require new legislation and Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said at the time this was “highly unlikely”. He said some options had been retained if another wave of the virus occurred.
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