Omicron sends Peel Hotel staff and patrons into isolation “devastating” the business

The owner of a Melbourne hotel has spoken about the impact of the latest Omicron scare on his business.

The Peel Hotel in Collingwood had a patron visit on Friday who is a confirmed Omicron case and now hundreds of revellers and staff have been sent into isolation.

Owner Tom McFeely says the shutdown has been “devastating” and the business has received “mixed messaging” in relation to unclear rules for isolation.

“I think what people forget is when you have staff isolating, there’s not that many more staff out there,” he told Today.

“I mean, the hospitality sector right now is pretty short-staffed. So, when you’re instructed that your staff have to isolate, that’s effectively meaning that you have to close.”

Mr McFeely also questioned why the 320 - 450 people who were at the venue on Friday need to isolate.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to so far has tested negative. So, this home isolation thing and quarantine I think is a bit of an overkill, to be honest, particularly with this variant,” he said.

The positive case also visited the Sircuit Bar in Fitzroy earlier that evening before heading to the Peel Hotel at 11.30pm.

All vaccinated people who were there during the affected hours will have to isolate for seven days while unvaccinated must isolate for 14 days.

Irit Jackson, 16th December 2021