'Totally irresponsible': Customers slam restaurant at centre of Covid alert
A Lebanese restaurant in Greater Western Sydney has been widely criticised for allowing a staff member with Covid-19 to continue working while failing to follow safety guidelines.
Jasmins1 in Liverpool was closed on Tuesday until further notice after NSW Health found it did not have a Covid Safety Plan and failed to take contact details of patrons.
NSW Health said the restaurant was told on October 28 someone with Covid had dined at Jasmins1.
“After being notified that people with Covid-19 had attended the restaurant while infectious and advised that any staff who worked at that time are close contacts and required to isolate up to and including 8 November, at least one staff member continued to work at the restaurant,” NSW Health said.
“NSW Health has now directed Jasmins1 Liverpool to provide a complete range of all records such as booking information and financial records relating to staff and patrons on the premises during dates and times of Covid-19 risk.”
Anyone who went to the restaurant for more than one hour on October 26 between 4pm – 9pm, Saturday between 3pm – 8pm and on Sunday between 9am – 1.45pm is being urged to get tested before self-isolating for 14 days.
Anyone who went in but didn’t stay for an hour is considered a casual contact and should monitor their symptoms.
People vent fury at ‘clueless’ restaurant
On Facebook, people were furious with the restaurant.
Jasmins Liverpool posted a defence of its procedures on Tuesday showing pictures of social-distancing signs and a sign-in book for diners.
It also lashed out at the media and suggested a reporter “need a sock in their mouth” for reporting on the breaches.
But the excuses and defence offered up by the restaurant’s management fell on deaf ears with people calling management “very selfish” and “totally irresponsible” for failing to follow the rules.
“You better pray and hope that a blow out of cases due to your behaviour does not happen,” one woman wrote.
Another was outraged the restaurant “kept sick staff working”.
Others were angry the restaurant “had the audacity” to offer up excuses while one woman wrote the restaurant “should have done the right thing”.
“I hope no one loses their life because of your blatant disregard for the health regulations during this pandemic,” she said.
One man called the restaurant’s ongoing excuses as “like watching a toddler drive an out of control freight train”.
Jasmins1 Liverpool can reopen once NSW Health is satisfied it has the appropriate safety measures installed.
Individuals breaking the Covid safety procedures can be fined $11,000 and face six months in jail.
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