Sarah Courtney,Minister for Small Business, Hospitality and Events
The health, safety and wellbeing of Tasmanians is our number one priority as we face the challenges presented to us by the coronavirus pandemic.
This is why we are taking a glide-path approach to easing restrictions and it's really important we continue to follow the rules.
From Monday 18 May, restaurants and cafes will be able to open again, with restrictions, for seated table service for up to 10 patrons, with delivery and takeaway services able to continue.
For a single business with a large premises that may have, for example, multiple dining rooms (eg. upstairs and downstairs, or separate rooms on one level, or an indoor and separate out area), the following principles apply:
- Each premises/single business may have no more than two separate dining areas of 10 seated patrons.
- Each setting where dining occurs must not have a density of seated patrons greater than 1 per 4 square metres. To seat 10 patrons the area must be a minimum of 40 square metres. (1 person per 4 square metres average applying). If the dining area is smaller than 40 square metres, a lower number of patrons will only be allowed.
- Multiple timed settings are permitted as long as at any point in time the seated patrons rules apply.
- Food must be consumed by each patron. It is not alcohol service only.
- In this instance, these dining areas will ideally have separate entry/exits points. If they don't, the venue must take steps to minimise opportunities for people to mix whilst waiting for a table (for example, there can be no waiting lobby and social distancing rules apply to any queuing). This could include staged arrivals for bookings.
