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Mark Adam Adam Harold Eltai, Chairman of the Vilnius Night Alliance (VNA), said that after quarantine restrictions imposed on restaurants, bars and nightclubs on Wednesday, the number of visitors decreased by about 20% compared to Monday and Tuesday.
“It is much quieter in the city than usual. (…) Yesterday there were about 20 percent of the people in bars. Less than on Monday and Tuesday,” he said.
MA Harold noted that the current wording of the restrictions means that small bars and food establishments will be the hardest hit.
“There will be more (closing bars – ELTA). Few people would be able to work with such restrictions, which means that smaller bars, clubs and cafes are much worse off (than large companies – ELTA),” he said, adding that this it destroys and limits the diversity of this business segment, since, with the closure of small bars and cafes, only large companies would remain in the market, to which customer flows would move, albeit at a reduced rate.
The president of the VNA also assured that the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the hospitality sector is low enough and that the restrictions are excessive for him.
“Looking at the global statistics, we see that (…) 3-5%. In the hospitality sector there have been illnesses and problems (…) and all the talk is about the need to close bars. This is how we solve the problems, if it is such a small percentage (we limit ELTA) ”, he said.
According to MA Harold, without justification to impose certain restrictions on nightlife venues, it is just an imitation of the fight against the virus.
“The idea that it is necessary to limit (work time until – ELTA) midnight and attack a subsector for no reason. This is simply an injustice. (…) You cannot irrationally attack a small sector and then imitate that you are fighting the virus. (…) All the language is directed against nightclubs, because it is politically convenient, ”said VNA president Eltai.
“If the situation is very bad because the government does not control the spread, with broken rules and the virus spreading everywhere, we clearly agree that in that case everything must be closed completely in those two weeks (…) and not in a small subsector. and pretend it’s a solution, “added Harold.
At that time, Raimondas Pranka, president of the Lithuanian Bars and Cafes Association (LBKA), stated that a large part of the bars, after the restrictions introduced, intend to work only on weekends or to close completely.
“Fewer people since last weekend. People are scared and understand the situation and listen to instructions.” Maybe someone else is coasting this week, but many of them have already decided to close or work only on weekends when there are more people, “he told Eltai.
R. Pranka assured that many bars and clubs can only work 20-30%. capacity, some of which will inevitably have to be shut down completely, noting that more effective state support is still expected.
“Some may close, others may endure and will survive, with the inhuman losses that we already have. Now many only 20-30 percent. Capacity we can work. People are less anyway because people are afraid, they are socially responsible, everything it is in order, we understand it. But when a company is prohibited from working, we want state aid and normal aid, not to give something so that we don’t “grunt”, he said.
“It just came to our knowledge then. (Government – ELTA) it would be better to close down, let’s be socially responsible, let’s reduce those social contacts and you will get a normal compensation plan. Then I would be silent. Now we have to ask questions, ask ourselves to survive,” he added R. Pranka.
ELTA recalls that as of Wednesday the quarantine regime came into force in the municipalities of Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, as well as in the municipalities of the Vilnius district, Širvintos, Šilal Tel, Trakai and Telšiai. The quarantine in these municipalities will continue until November 11 at 24:00.
From Monday, the quarantine regime is valid in Elektrėnai, Joniškis district, Jurbarkas district, Kelmė district, Klaipėda district, Kretinga district, Marijampolė, Pasvalys district, Plungė district, Skuodas district, Šiauliai district , municipalities of the Švenčionys district, as well as the extended quarantine district in Raseiniaii.
The government has also decided to reduce the opening hours of catering establishments, restaurants, cafes, bars, discos and other entertainment venues: these establishments are allowed from 7 to 24 hours.
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