Mike van de Elzen: Latest lockdown will hurt hospitality businesses

The Covid-19 Alert Level changes are like the plug being pulled on Auckland hospitality businesses.Auckland is at Alert Level 3, with the rest of the country at Level 2, after a 21-year-man and his mother tested positive yesterday.Restaurant Association chief executive Marisa Bidois [muh-riss-ah bid-waa] says it's a major blow for our biggest city, with Sundays usually being a busy day.She says it's reassuring the government have been clear financial support is available.But Bidois says it only covers a small portion of costs."At Level 3, many of our industry won't be open. So that will mean continuing to cover lease costs, continuing to cover other costs associated with business." Chef Mike van de Elzen told Francesca Rudkin that restaurants can do takeaways, but it is quite an undertaking to shift to that and ensure that the food gets to the right place - and still tastes good.He says there will be a lot of wastage of food. "It's not just the cost of monetary - it's the mental [health] of owners and staff. They keep getting hit." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.