Covid-19 Delta outbreak: Tauranga Bakery reopens after Covid scare

A Tauranga bakery owner is rapt to be back in business today after he was forced to close the doors for two weeks because of a Covid-19 scare. Mount Maunganui's Uppercrust Bakery was named as a location of interest on September 16 when a truck driver tested positive after he had crossed Auckland's alert level 4 border and travelled to Hamilton, Cambridge and Tauranga.

The truck driver visited the bakery twice - the first time was on September 11 between 10.10 am and 12.05 pm, and again between 9.55 am and 11.50 am on September 14.

Uppercrust Bakery owner John-Paul van der Meys employs four staff and they were there when the truck driver visited, meaning they had to self-isolate for 14 days.

Yesterday van der Meys deep cleaned the bakery in preparation for reopening and from midnight he was in baking all the pies and bread items for sale today.

"It's been a very anxious time for us, especially when we learned that Covid was found in Tauranga's wastewater on day 12 of our isolation. I thought 'oh no, not again'. I was really on tenterhooks and getting the all-clear to reopen today was a huge relief."

Van der Meys has owned the business for 17 years and usually works six days a week, and 51 weeks a year.

"Having to stay in isolation for two weeks is quite a different ballgame than being in lockdown and sitting on my couch for two weeks. It is definitely out of character for me.

"We have been operating this business long enough to sustain a [financial] hit from time to time, including during two lockdowns. But having to close for two weeks just like that was a kick in the teeth because it was so unexpected.

"We're just trying to deal with the hit as best we can and move forward."

Uppercrust Bakery owner John-Paul van der Meys with some of his sweet treats. Photo / George Novak.

Van der Meys said it had been a bit of a slow start and he hoped things would pick up and he was being buoyed by all the messages of support from regular customers.

"My message to our customers is thanks so much for all your great support. We are all [Covid] negative, the bakery is clean, and customers have nothing to worry about.

"We're back in business again. We'd love to see our customers pop in again to say hello and find something they love to eat and hopefully be coming in every day," he said.

Van der Meys said he was due to have his first Covid-19 vaccine dose on the day the bakery had to shut down, and would be getting his first jab today.

"I really encourage everyone who has not already got vaccinated to do so as soon as possible so we won't have to keep going into lockdowns again."

He said his recent experience had further convinced him vaccinations were the best way to prevent further financial hits to small businesses through more lockdowns.

Regular customer Fern from Pāpāmoa said she felt so sorry for van der Meys and his staff having to shut for two weeks through no fault of their own.

"I like to support little small businesses like the Uppercrust Bakery who need all the support they can get especially after taking such a financial hit.

"Whenever I visit Mount Maunganui I usually pop in and John-Paul and his staff are such lovely people to deal with."

Tauranga Intermediate teacher Jo Young said she knew a lot of teachers from the Mount Maunganui area were regular customers at the bakery.

"It is great to see the bakery open again and the owner and his staff have to be applauded for the way they ensure all their customers wear masks to keep everyone safe.

"I wish John-Paul and his staff all the best," she said.