Questions are being asked about whether fast food outlets should be closed during Sydney’s lockdown after it emerged 12 staff from a KFC in the city’s south west tested positive.
Every single customer who visited the Canterbury Rd, Punchbowl branch of KFC between Tuesday, July 27 and Monday, August 2 now has to test and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result.
KFC is just the latest big name to come under scrutiny as to whether it’s really essential and should remain open.
Earlier in the week it was noted that both Bunnings and The Reject Shop stores can remain open despite NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian repeatedly saying the lockdown is Australia’s “toughest”.
NSW announced 291 new Covid-19 cases on Friday as the Sydney outbreak shows no sign of slowing despite six weeks of lockdown.
12 staff in one Sydney KFC infected
At Friday’s press conference New South Wales chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said the KFC outbreak was an example of just how easy the Delta strain can spread in workplaces and essential business.
“You have one person who introduced (covid) to a workplace, then you have 12 people who have become infected.
“Each of those 12 people will go back to their households and introduce it there.
“Then you get the cycle of transmission. That is why it is so critical that people get tested at the earliest point, and that people even in workplaces follow all the covid safety practices.”
RELATED: Dr Chant’s apology to family of covid victim
New Zealand shut all fast food in its lockdown
However, transmission in suburban KFCs wasn’t a problem in New Zealand’s initial lockdown because they were ordered to close.
NZ’s level 4 restrictions go further than any lockdown in Australia. The nation’s strongest lockdown rules mean only supermarkets, convenience stores, chemists, petrol stations and a few other outlets can remain open.
Butchers and greengrocers were all told to shut, which sent most people into the big grocery stores.
Food delivery was also banned and fast food was off the menu so the lights went out at KFC, Macca’s and Hungry Jack’s, or rather Burger King as it’s known on the other side of the Tasman.
On social media, some have suggested that fast food is far from “essential” and given the extent of the outbreak should be shut similar to what occurred in New Zealand.
Dr Chant, however, was reluctant to advise taking that step.
“This is about a balance of access to food and other things that people need.
“My major point would be that you minimise your exposure in those settings, minimise your shopping.”
RELATED: Reason Bunnings can stay open in lockdowns
Why takeaway is risky
Takeaway outlets are a risky location because of their generally small size.
Over the last few weeks, Dr Chant has said transmission to customers is very low in large retail settings such as supermarkets.
Where transmission has occurred more frequently in retail has mostly been in smaller shops such as butchers and banks. Places where people are crowded closer.
Many KFCs would be not much bigger than a bank and staff are often in close contact.
But closing fast food outlets would be a new step for Australia. Even in Victoria’s strictest lockdowns delivery, fast food has been allowed to operate.
And if KFC was closed, it wouldn’t be the only one.
All cafes and anywhere selling takeaway food – from sushi to fresh salads, from pizzerias to fish and chip shops – would likely also have to shut given they fulfil much the same role.
Ritzy coffee shops selling soy lattes would, in all fairness, have to close as well as basic burger joints.
But the main stumbling block to closing takeaways would be that there is no argument food is essential – even fried chicken and chips with a side of mash and gravy.
If someone can’t get dinner from KFC, they’ll have to go somewhere else.
And that could lead to more people heading to supermarkets potentially turning them into riskier exposure sites.
RELATED: NSW lockdown restrictions explained
How to make fast food safer
One answer might be in how takeaway outlets manage customers.
A throng of people waiting for their order of popcorn chicken inside a store is far more likely to lead to covid transmission than those same people waiting outside.
Takeaways could also go delivery or click and collect only, which would limit transmission to customers.
But delivery would cost customers more. And either option is unlikely to stop transmissions between staff.
It’s worth noting that it’s not known yet if any of the customers at KFC Punchbowl actually caught covid from staff.
On its website, KFC said it was “still open and still frying”.
“Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our staff and community,” the firm states.
“All our crew are trained before each shift on increased safety measures, hygiene standards and social distancing rules to mitigate the risk of Covid-19.
“Every shift has a dedicated hygiene leader, who’ll ensure that team members are washing their hands more frequently and sanitising all contact surfaces.”
Earlier this week, both Dr Chant and Queensland health Minister Yvette D’Ath were forced to defend the likes of Bunnings and The Reject Shop continuing to trade in both states’ lockdowns.
“A number of retail stores still sell essential items. It might be nappies, it might be baby formula, it may be electronics, computers so that people can do work at home or their children can study at home,” said Ms D’Ath.
“So it is very hard to have a definitive, absolute list of what should and shouldn’t open.”
Notably, Bunnings has been told to shut for in-store shopping during most of Victoria’s lockdown.
But The Reject Shop, which has a large food range, is open and has been open during all lockdowns in all states.
The more cases crop up in retail and food outlets, however, and the more the numbers rise, the more the calls will increase to implement NZ’s tougher restrictions.
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