CAFE Borellas owner George Benyon is urging other business owners to take COVID safety plans seriously after a traveller at his eatery was found to have coronavirus.
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Mr Benyon was alerted to the positive case at about 2.45pm on Tuesday by NSW Health officials and by 5pm had provided them with details of diners who had provided their details as part of the eatery's safety plan.
"What I've learnt over the past 24 hours is how important it is to have a COVID plan," Mr Benyon said.
He said coincidentally Liquor and Gaming Department staff inspected the cafe at 4pm Tuesday.
They checked food and liquor licences, took photographs and scrutinised the dining area and toilets.
The patron from Victoria found to have the virus has been linked to the Crossroads hotel in south-west Sydney which has became an epicentre for COVID-19 cases in the capital.
Mr Benyon said the man's personal information was taken upon his arrival at Cafe Borellas and he would have cleaned his hands.
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NSW Health senior environmental health officer Tony Burns said customers at the cafe on June 30 were being contacted and he lauded the measures taken by the business.
"Their social distancing was very good, their hygiene and sanitation was good and they did have a very good record," Mr Burns said.
Mr Benyon said the episode showed the strong need to have coronavirus safety steps in place and realise "these rules aren't out there to play marbles".
"People have got to start complying," he said.
"Every business in Albury should be complying with the rules and if they were we wouldn't have as many problems."
Cafe Borellas opened for regular trading on Wednesday.
Mr Benyon said there had been some phone calls from worried diners on Wednesday morning but overall patrons were positive.
"Our customer base is here in droves again today and most of them come here because they know we have the safety plan," he said.
"Every day someone will say to you 'you're doing a good job' or 'you've got this right with your safety plan and it's nice to come here because we feel safe'."
The Murrumbidgee Local Health District chief executive Jill Ludford said to her knowledge the patron with coronavirus visited no other shops or businesses while travelling through Albury.
Those who lunched at Cafe Borellas on June 30 are encouraged to have a COVID-19 test, but it is not mandatory.
Ms Ludford said overall the numbers that have come forward for testing in Albury since mobile testing began, initially in Lavington and then at the showground, were very pleasing.
"We've had an overwhelming response in Albury," she said.
"We've seen over 1200 people come forward for testing since we started testing there just a week ago, so we've had a fantastic response from the people in Albury."
"We want to make sure that thing can never happen again and again I have extended my unreserved apology to that family," Ms Ludford said.
"I've been in contact with the chief executive from Albury Wodonga Health, we've got very robust procedures in place now to make sure that there can be a smooth transmission of patients and transfer of patients between Albury and Wagga Wagga as needed and all of the other border towns as well."
