Huskisson restaurant Wildginger to reopen after COVID-19 case

It was a suspenseful two weeks for restaurateur Kierrin McKnight and his staff while they waited for the all clear.

Wildginger was informed on Monday, August 10 that a diner who visited the restaurant had tested positive to COVID-19.

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Twelve staff were working on the Saturday, August 8, when the positive case dined at the restaurant.

Half of the staff were told to go into isolation but to be cautious all staff who worked on the night isolated themselves for two weeks.

After the restaurant was deep cleaned, Wildginger was told it could reopen but owner Kierrin McKnight said staff needed the time to regroup.

"We weren't told we had to shut down," Mr McKnight said.

"The reason we closed for two weeks was to give our staff the isolation time they needed, to regroup before we reopened and protect our local community."

When the restaurateur got the call from NSW Health, he wasn't just concerned about his business.

"It wasn't shock... I was concerned it was going to be a situation for not just me but my community.

"I didn't sleep very well that night."

He said the staff and their families have responded amazingly.

"The staff haven't whinged, they've been nothing but responsible and mature about the whole thing even the young ones, the families deserve a pat on the back as well because it's a knock-on effect.

"But we understand there are hundreds of cases around Australia, lots of people and businesses are in the same boat."

It has come as a relief for both the community and restaurant that after over two weeks there has been no community transmission linked to Wildginger.

Kierrin said it was a testament that COVID-safe measures worked in helping to prevent the virus spreading.

"We've had no cases linked to Wildginger and compliance to COVID-safe measure proves that it can help."

The restaurant has been overwhelmed with mostly positive support from the community.

"Within 24 hours I had something like 181 missed calls of support from family, friends and patrons who had visited over the years."

Before the positive case, Wildginger had been operating a 60 per cent capacity to meet COVID-safe guidelines.

A number of staff would have lost their jobs if it was not for government support in Jobkeeper.

But it was not all grim for Huskisson businesses.

"Considering the restrictions that we all faced, June/July winter was on par to be one of the best."

Having run Windginger in Huskisson for 17 years Kierrin said the Huskisson and Jervis Bay community is strong and would bounce back.

He hopes the community will support them when they reopen.

"After the first few days I didn't lose sleep at night because I knew we were trying our hardest to be compliant and the health department signed us off.

"I just need people to be confident to come back to Wildginger."