As people prepare to re-adjust to tightening COVID-19 restrictions, one industry that will continue to be hurt is calling for help.
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Caterers across the region have been left in limbo throughout the pandemic as all manner of events they would usually cater to have been shut down.
Elizabeth Smith from Fabulous Feast Catering told The Courier watching all her clients drop off so rapidly was like watching a person die.
"My catering started to go downhill before restrictions were put in because we had a lot of clients whose clubs were made up of at risk individuals," she said.
"A lot of bowling clubs were very wary of COVID-19 early on and shut down early."
By the time full restrictions hit in March, my business had already been crippled... It was like watching someone die.
- Elizabeth Smith, owner of Fabulous Feast Catering.
Over the four months, Mrs Smith has tried her best to adjust, crafting smaller orders and selling off what product she had, however it's simply not enough.
She said while the community rallied around restaurants and takeaway establishments, they forgot about caterers.
"We started to make some items as we could, but it was difficult because no one was looking at catering businesses for food, they were looking at restaurants or take away venues.
"I found it very hard to advertise my business."
Restaurants, pubs, auction halls, community halls, libraries, museums and places of worship that were set to be allowed to welcome up to 50 patrons through their doors from Monday will stay at a maximum of 20 people in any one space until July 12.
Business that were set to open on Monday like gyms, cinemas, theatres and TABs can do so, but only with a maximum of 20 customers.
Looking forward, Mrs Smith is trying to stay positive, however as restrictions tighten and events remain capped at 20 people her prospects of recovering from this devastating first half of the year worsen.
"I've lost a lot," she continued.
"Everything I had booked disappeared... sporting clubs, senior centres, weddings - all gone.
"We're still being hurt because all the family events we would usually work at are still restricted to 20 people. No one wants to have a wedding with 20 people, and if they are, that's a very low number for us to work with.
"If events could hold more than 20 people, I could see things starting to pick up again, but it's hard to know when that's going to happen.
"I'm only just hanging in there."
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