But how easy is it for restaurants to reopen in a rush? Omnia chef Stephen Nairn is keen to welcome diners back to his South Yarra restaurant, but it's not a matter of just pressing go.
"We don't even know if people will be allowed to travel more than five kilometres to dine and if they can spend more than two hours out of their homes," he says. On top of writing a new menu, there's produce ordering, rostering, website updates and training in systems that keep diners and staff safe. "The safety of our staff is paramount," says Nairn."We have people worried about coronavirus, just like every other employer. If we need additional safety gear, we'll get it."
"Doing our bit to remind people there is still a very serious situation might mean not having dine-in. We will keep going with takeaways." In preparation for outdoor dining, Malka is installing speakers to play Israeli music to al fresco diners.
goodfoodAU YTheWait Has a good plan for restaurant owners, how can they serve their customers and staff safely. And any restaurant owner can get rid of this situation if you know how to manage your restaurant during covid-19.