Businesses are planning to lift restrictions: when will sports clubs and restaurants open and tourists will arrive?

Aurimas Mačiukas, president of the Lithuanian Association of Sports and Health Clubs, said on the “Delfi Tema” program that he is ready to work from March 1.

For its part, the government’s gradual plan to modify the restrictions applicable to the quarantine regime stipulates that the ban on the provision of health services will be lifted only when fewer than 50 cases reach 100,000. population for 14 days. A similar requirement applies to sports clubs, which currently exceed 200.

“It just came to our attention then. There is practically no tracking of infections in sports clubs. Those numbers are taken from the ceiling. In Europe, for example, there are an estimated 115 million visits and only up to 1,000. Infections This is 1.15 infections per 100,000 visits – this is a very small number.

It is not a contact sport, we have all the possibilities to trace contacts, we have ventilation, we can ensure compliance with distances, the use of masks, etc. We are ready to work from March 1, maintaining all safety requirements, “said A. Mačiukas at the fair.

The head of the association pointed out that if it could not open as of March 1, then the collapse of the clubs would begin.

“Initially there could be individual sports, then in groups of up to 10 people, maintaining up to 15 square meters per person with distances of 2 meters. Employees in masks would be all the time, customers, until the start of sports.

Now sports clubs are vegetating, actually the year there is no activity, half a year has been in full swing. It should be understood that this is a subscription business, even if the clubs are now open, people would not be overwhelmed. 20-30% would meet, “said A. Mačiukas.

In addition, he pointed out that sports clubs can be very helpful in getting people out of the Covid-19 situation when they are closed, depressed.

“We are seeing another pandemic, such as an exacerbation of overweight, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and prediabetic conditions.” “It is a very bad situation with young people, students who sit all day,” said the interlocutor.

Temperature is not an obstacle

Evalda Šiškauskienė, director of the Lithuanian Hotel and Restaurant Association, said that catering establishments could open outdoors even if the temperature in the country remained low in late March or early April.

“The low temperatures, I think, will not stop because there are hot lamps. There are restaurants, for example, by the sea, which are now open to take away, but they would very much like to have coffee for 2 or 4 people at the tables outside for a while. Of course, this weather didn’t last long, 5 or 10 minutes, “he said.

In general, the interviewee emphasized that knowledge is very important for business.

“Some business hotels have been open since March last year. You need to prepare, retrain employees, many have moved to other jobs, like in supermarkets.

We hope that the movement between municipalities will be liberalized, people will be able to go to hotels that are not closed only in theory. You can hardly go to another municipality or provide services.

We look forward to the launch of massages, saunas and swimming pools. It would also help the psychological state of people, to relax, to change the environment. This also requires the liberation of the buffet, “E. Šiškauskienė told Delfi.

However, the interlocutor said he had no hope of opening restaurants until early spring.

“We could do it with outdoor terraces like last spring. Of course, all restaurants are also ready to work safely indoors, keeping distances, disinfecting, testing employees, “he recalled.

Waiting for a specific date

Žydrė Gavelienė, president of the National Association of Tourist Businesses, said that a specific date needed to be announced from which Lithuania would admit foreigners.

“Will it be May 1 or June 1? Then businesses could apply and foreigners would have that information. Other countries are already announcing it, ”he said.

“We also need positive information on how we are dealing with the health situation in Lithuania today.

All that is known today is that this is the sickest country, there are people in space suits at airports. Green hallways are also needed. For example, both Hungary and the Czech Republic make deals on Israeli tourists. Where is Lithuania located? “, Reflected the interlocutor.

Ž. Gavelienė emphasized that traveling is a business that is planned in advance.

“The guides are ready, the tour operators have survived. We can talk about the vaccinated and the sick: today they could come to Lithuania safely.

For example, it would be possible to allow guides to start work today, allowing Lithuanians to go on excursions in small groups, at safe distances, with audio guides, ”he urged.