“They need to call out the business to ensure that everyone gets tested,” he said.
But it became apparent that something out of the ordinary had unfolded when Ms Short received a call from the Department of Health three days later. As news spread online about the cafe being a hotspot, Ms Short worried about how the playground gossip might affect her daughter. She assumed her staff, who wore masks and were meticulous about sanitising their hands, would be fine.
Business was slow when the cafe reopened, with many locals reluctant to leave their homes following the outbreak. But things started to pick up once Melbourne’s second lockdown ended, signalling that the worst of the second wave was over.On the day the cafe reopened, a group of loyal customers, friends and business owners presented Ms Short with flowers, wine and vouchers for local shops.