The Unanderra Hotel has said its pub is open after the hotel was listed on a public health alert on Friday.
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The venue's bistro is currently closed, but its pub will remain open to patrons. Managers said today that it is otherwise business as usual at the Central Road venue.
The Mercury incorrectly reported earlier today that the entire hotel was closed, but it is only the bistro. The Mercury apologies for any inconvenience caused.
The bistro will reopen for dinner at 5pm on Monday, December 6.
It comes after another popular Wollongong venue has been forced to shut as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the city, with two of its staff testing positive for the virus.
The Illawarra in Wollongong's CBD will close its doors until at least December 9, joining Pepe's on the Beach, Towradgi Beach Hotel and The Prince which also shut temporarily this week.
Two employees tested positive for COVID overnight.
"We had limited exposure initially, and because of the way they'd set the guidelines up for fully vaccinated people, we were fine," publican Ryan Aitchison said.
He said his staff - who were fully vaccinated, masked and maintained a safe distance - had been cleared as close contacts.
But Mr Aitchison said that advice had changed, and with two employees now confirmed to have COVID, all staff members were now close contacts.
Close contacts have to isolate at home.
There were 23 new COVID cases across the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District on Friday, including 21 in Wollongong.
"The ability to trade is very uncertain at the moment for all of us," Mr Aitchison said.
Mr Aitchison branded the changed advice he said he received as a "dangerous precedent".
"Unfortunately, the government narrative of 'we need to live with COVID' only stands up when there's no COVID," he said.
But Mr Aitchison said NSW Health had been "phenomenal" and the local health district staff had been very supportive.
Being the holiday season, the closure has come at a particularly difficult time for the pub.
Mr Aitchison expects his business will be lucky if it only loses 25 per cent of its trade and revenue during its busiest month of the year.
While the financial impact hit hard, he said it was also upsetting to have to cancel the Christmas functions customers had booked.
"That was probably the hardest thing, really," Mr Aitchison said.
Meanwhile, the Headlands Hotel at Austinmer was closed on Thursday while it underwent a deep clean and staff were tested.
It is reopening today.
The Mercury has contacted the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and Premier Dominic Perrottet's office for clarification and comment.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
