After advocating for ‘test to work’ for some time and amid declining public appetite for masking and other ‘traffic light rules’, the Restaurant Association (RA) has welcomed the elimination of the traffic light system and associated requirements for staff to wear face coverings.
“We’re thrilled at the removal of the traffic light system and the dropping of mask wearing requirements for workers in the hospitality industry. Few people like covering their faces and it is a barrier to providing good personal service,” said Marisa Bidois, Restaurant Association CEO.
“With dwindling Covid infection numbers, public health advice indicating waning transmission rates along with the apparent low impact of Covid disease, it is the right move to make for the industry and the nation.”
Hospitality businesses are seeing improving conditions as Covid restrictions continue easing; the RA’s monthly Hospitality Dashboard indicates that revenue is the same or higher for nearly 80 percent of members, with most trading at between 81 and 90 percent of typical customer levels.
Wellbeing is also improving, with 73 percent of members indicating Covid restrictions and the resultant stresses were impacting their health in July, the number dropped to 58 percent in August.
“Undoubtedly, as we see Covid measures rolling further back, business performance will keep picking up and those wellbeing numbers will continue improving,” said Bidois.
While the industry is still doing it tough, Bidois noted that recent events are reducing the worries confronting restaurant and hospitality businesses.
“Our members say trade is still difficult to predict, and a lot of that is the result of Covid measures. As these measures recede, we can expect brighter days.”
