Susanna Freymark
BAKERY owner Nigel Buchanan found out his Coraki shop was a venue of concern through social media.
As soon as he heard the Coraki Bakery had been visited by a covid positive person, Nigel closed the Richmond Terrace shop.
At the very least, he expected to receive a notification via text message from the health authorities.
“I called NSW Health and had to push them for an answer,” Nigel said.
“No assistance was given.”
Nigel did his own deep clean at the Coraki Bakery.
“When I called the hotline — they said, ‘Why did you close the shop? It’s only a casual contact’.”
The covid-positive man who came into the bakery wrote his name on the register. He visited at 8.20am on Saturday, September 11.
Another man who lived locally came in at 8.40am and never received a text message from NSW Health, Nigel said.
Nigel isn’t impressed with the process.
“The people of Coraki are very loyal and the impact of having a case in my shop wasn’t a good feeling,” he said.
A NSW Health official visited from Lismore and said the staff member who served the visiting man was considered a close contact.
Despite this, the official didn’t think Nigel needed to close the shop or do a deep clean.
This was five days later, Nigel said.
“It was a bizarre experience,” Nigel said.
“I think NSW Health have given up. They don’t care.”
Northern NSW Local Health District has been contacted for comment.
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