COVID & Our Escape Rooms

19 Nov 2020 
​
On this page...
​
Before & After - What has Changed

Thank You

Timeline 

COVID Escape Room FAQ

Questions

Before & After: What has Changed

UPDATE (7 DEC 2020)
Face Masks are no longer required by customers or staff

Thank You for your Support

We wish to say thank you to the following people:

The customers who refused refunds and committed to return in better times.
Those customers who took refunds but indicated they would return in better times. 
Our Landlord for the generous offer to lower the rent to assist us in difficult times.
The Australian Taxpayers funding the Federal Government Grant - without which we would not have spent thousands of dollars to upgrade the facilities.
The Federal Government and ATO for JobKeeper that has allowed us to keep up the workforce needed to make the changes required.
​The State Government for taking a hard-line approach to the matter. 
MS Frances Diver (CEO of Barwon Health) for the regular COVID updates via social media. 
All those within Barwon Health who have endured the fear, stress and logistics gymnastics of the past few months.
To the other escape rooms and all businesses who closed their doors to help protect the elderly and our health care workers. 
The Geelong Council for being pro-active in providing assistance. 
All branches of Government for taking a hard-line approach to the situation to help us avoid unnecessary loss of life.
To Victoria Police for enforcing the regulations. 

Timeline of News & Updates

17 March Prison Entertainment Closes and Refunds Bookings.
23 March ​Vic Government closes all non-essential business.
26 April Grant Received - COVID Safe Works Commence.
​20 May Plans to ease restrictions on 1 June announced.
​30 May Easings of restrictions deferred.
14 June Easing of restrictions announced for 22 June for Bars and Outdoor Arcades but Indoor Arcades to remain closed. 
23 June Our COVID-Safe Works completed and published.
16 October COVID restrictions ease to Third Step. Indoor Amusements must remain closed except for repairs (no customer service)
23 November As of Monday 23 November we switch to Last Step COVID restrictions (Indoor Amusements can open)
24 November We are open Tue-Sat. On Tue 24 November we resume customer service and start taking bookings.
27 November Friday 27 November is when our bookings resume being hosted.  
7 December Face Masks are no longer required by customers or staff

COVID Restrictions & Escape Rooms (Indoor Amusement Arcades)
Escape Rooms are classed as indoor amusements (or indoor arcades).

Amusements Parks were originally cited as being able to open on 22 June but without any clarification as to indoor Vs outdoor.
​
Later, on 14 June, this reference was clarified as meaning outdoor amusements and it was specified that indoor amusements were to remain closed.

​This may have led to some escape room operators announcing that they were opening on 22 June only to have to back-pedal. 

Given the constantly changing landscape our policy (apologies to those who enquired) has been - and still is - to remain silent on our opening date until only a few days prior to our actual opening to avoid situations like the above. 

COVID & Our Escape Rooms - FAQ

Updated 19 Nov 2020

Are we taking Bookings?
Yes. As of Mon 23 November 2020. 

Are we selling Vouchers?
No. Vouchers can still be redeemed however we no longer sell Vouchers. 

Are we taking booking or voucher enquiries?
Not until 23 November. We will not be attending any enquiries until we are allowed to open (see DHHS Website for up-to-date announcements). This will help avoid situations where we give advice and then need to change the advice / issue refunds.

How do the cell dividers work?
We operate in a two-story high factory and the cell dividers are 2+ meters high. 
The cell dividers allow the first person to occupy the far end of a cell and close a plastic curtain behind them to form a barrier. 
The perspex screen allows both sides to see what the other is doing. 

Can we pass things through from one side to the other?
No, however you may need to verbally pass information. 

How do you keep everything clean?
We have removed all cloth, wood and paper items (not easily cleaned) and replaced everything with laminate, metal, plastic or gloss surfaces (cleanable) ensuring everything can be wiped after each booking. 

How long did all the changes take?
We received a grant and commenced on 26 April. 
We completed the three-phase project on 23 June. 
We are now ready but will remain closed until given the go-ahead to re-open. 

What about other groups?
Your group has the venue to itself. 
We apologise to the small groups of two or three persons for whom the experience is now more expensive.

Do you wear masks?
Yes. All persons must wear masks. 

Will we have to touch things others have touched?
No, everyone has their own waiver form and each person has their designated half of a cell which will have been disinfected prior to use. You will not need to pass items between cells. 

What cleaning products do you use?
COVID regulations allow for disinfectant that is either 60%+ Ethanol, 70%+ Alcohol or a Quaternary Compound. 
COVID regulations also require both disinfecting and cleaning with detergent. 
The active ingrediant in the Glitz Pine Disinfectant (Bunnings) we use is Benzalkonium Chloride which is a Quarternary Compound. The advantage of this product is that it acts as both a detergent (removing grit and build-up) as well as a disinfectant (kills bacteria & viruses).

Do the changes make the experience better or worse?
The addition of perspex screens means Person B can see and clearly communicate with Person A so the two persons can still work together without physically interacting. This adds another dimension to the experience which is made more novel by this new inter-dependence - we look forward to sharing how these fun moments will play out with our guests in the future. 

We are ready