The owners of the eatery caught up in Orange's latest COVID-19 alert have been praised for their handling of the situation.
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Member for Calare Andrew Gee said Birdie Noshery and Drinking Est owners Leah Morphett and Simonn Hawke deserved a "socially distanced pat on the back" for the work they had done.
"It speaks to very sound social distancing policies they had in place in the restaurant," he said.
"They have been having a lot of visitors through there over the last few months."
The Summer Street eatery is still closed after staff at the restaurant were among 61 close contacts forced into self-isolation for 14 days.
It followed a Sydney man, 18, who tested positive to the virus, dining at the restaurant at lunchtime on Sunday January 3.
"The fact they haven't any COVID cases resulting from that contact speaks to the fact they had good systems in place that so far seemed to have protected their staff and members of the public. I think that is very commendable," Mr Gee said.
It's a good example for other organisations to follow.
- Member for Calare Andrew Gee on Birdie's handling of the COVID-19 situation
"That could have been a lot worse.
"It's a good example for other organisations to follow."
"It shows you taking those protective measures does actually work."
He said it was good news staff, locals and tourists had not contracted the virus from the eatery: "Well done Birdies," he said.
Mr Gee said the road map for how vaccines would be rolled out to regional areas had not been drawn up yet.
"I think our region is handling it very well," he said.
"With a bit of luck we'll get those vaccines out in March."
Mr Gee said the state government had also handled the situation well in maintaining public health in NSW without shutting down the economy.
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