THE owner of popular local Vietnamese restaurant Mr Bun Mi has revealed the jarring moment he was told his business was one of Mildura’s Tier 1 exposure sites.
Andy Nguyen said he received a call from a health department official about 6pm on Sunday with the news that Mr Bun Mi was visited by the city’s first COVID case in 15 months last Tuesday night.
“I was at home when I got the call. I was shocked me when the lady from the health (department) told me what had happened,” said Mr Nguyen, who also owns Andy’s Kitchen in Mildura.
“Within half an hour we were closed and put up a notice advising our customers on our Facebook page.
“We immediately had to put our stock, which was worth about $6000, straight into the bin.
“It’s very unfortunate, but we have to comply with the rules.”
Mr Nguyen said Mr Bun Mi would be closed for 14 days from the exposure date of Tuesday, July 13, between 5-7pm.
He said the business would undergo a deep clean before reopening.
Mr Bun Mi is one of 11 Tier 1 and 2 exposure sites in Mildura, including Kaffenio, Noodle World, Coles in Fifteenth Street, Mildura Central Shopping Centre, Mildura Waves, The Alfred Deakin Centre (twice last Monday), Yo Yo Joe’s, blk.mlk coffee shop and Solunar cafe on Deakin Avenue.
Asked if the man who tested positive at the weekend had dined in or had takeaway at Mr Bun Mi last Tuesday night, he said: “At this stage, I don’t know.
“I did ask that question to the lady from the public health team and she told me she didn’t know at this stage.
“We are trying to get more information to pass on to our staff members and customers.”
He said he and his staff, along with their family members, would have two tests and isolate until next Tuesday.
“I had my first one this morning. I was lucky to get in early, but the good thing is that we have no symptoms,” Mr Nguyen said.
“But the business will be closed for the 14-day period. We’ll be doing a deep clean and sanitising so we can open to the public again.”
The latest hammer blow comes as Mr Nguyen estimates his two businesses have so far lost a combined $400,000 in the five lockdowns.
“This will take a long time to make up those losses,” he said.
“More than ever, all local businesses need the support of local residents now.”
