Newcastle cafe owners have started planning how to deal with an anticipated shutdown of the industry but have vowed to protect staff.
Some Darby Street traders who had a typically busy Sunday were reporting a drop-off by Tuesday as coronavirus cases spread.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann predicted on Tuesday that businesses would collapse during the outbreak.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the national cabinet would receive advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee on Tuesday night before announcing any new rules on social contact.
Melbourne Italian restaurant La Camera has started taking customers' temperatures before they enter, and others in Melbourne and Sydney have closed temporarily or started shifting to takeaway and delivery.
Ben Richardson, who owns Autumn Rooms in Darby Street, said his trade had fallen about 30 per cent in the past two days and he was planning how to adapt in the event of a shutdown.
He said he had sent several staff home due to quiet trade.
He hoped to offer deliveries if the government closed down eateries and had talked to other cafe owners about their approach.
"I think we need to band together as a community," he said. "Everybody is a bit uncertain at the moment and a bit scared, but the thing is we're all in it together.
"I've been talking to contacts I have in Melbourne because it seems like they're ahead of us as far as the impact this has already had on their hospitality industry."
Talked to Darby St cafe owner Anthony Strachan today about you-know-what. @newcastleherald pic.twitter.com/EszS6IM2dW
— Michael Parris (@mhparris) March 17, 2020
Three Monkeys co-owner Anthony Strachan said his trade had held up, but he anticipated a lockdown.
"My gut feel would be that at some point the government will lock everyone down, but I think we're all waiting on information and all waiting for a bit of leadership to come through so we all know where we stand as far as will banks be freezing mortgages, will landlords be freezing rents. They're the crucial things," he said.
"We can't leave our people without rent and money for food. That would be inhumane."
Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association director Phil Hele urged people to keep visiting the vineyards after Oakvale Wines was linked to a coronavirus case on Monday.
"I don't think we can even start to consider what the ramifications of all this is," the Hunter Valley Resort owner said.
"We've got open country here, the air is clean. I don't think we should be panicking and thinking that the world is coming to an end."
Mr Hele's resort has an extensive message on its home page detailing hygiene and other measures the hotel has taken to prevent infection.
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