Some bars or cinemas may need a passport for options from Monday, others will be waiting on September 13.

The government adopted new restrictions on Wednesday that will take effect on September 13: without access to the passport, it will no longer be possible to access many unnecessary services, visit catering establishments, larger stores, etc.

Until then, there will be a transition period starting Monday with stricter security requirements. According to the Ministry of Health (SAM), it is proposed to allow customers to plant only two on a table in catering establishments starting next week. Buffets would be prohibited in hotels.

An alternative offered to companies is to present a passport for opportunities now, and there are almost no restrictions.

Representatives of cinemas, bars and some restaurants say they will ask for a passport of opportunities as soon as possible.

Harold: We are totally in favor of a passport to opportunity.

Mark Adam Harold, president of the Vilnius Night Alliance (VNA), which connects clubs and other entertainment establishments, says that no one wants restrictions anymore, so applying for a passport of opportunities is a better way out.

“We say that we are completely in favor of a passport to opportunities if we can act without restrictions, without distances, without masks. We asked for such solutions, we wanted them. Now, probably more people will be vaccinated for that motivation, and we will not need another closure and financial subsidies, ”says MA Harold.

Here he warned that if bar hours and the number of visitors were again limited, the institutions would again ask for financial support: “We cannot just close our business.”

MA Harold says most bars can apply for a passport for options starting next week.

“It’s hard to imagine how a bar would choose to open and serve three customers; it’s a loss-making activity. I don’t know who will try it,” said MA Harold.

The head of the Alliance is asking the Government for more control so that all institutions comply with current and future requirements, since not all schools comply with them.

“For more than a year, we have been insisting on a control mechanism: to keep buyers secret, to impose significant fines for serious offenses, it is even possible to suspend an alcohol license for those who commit serious offenses. We have seen many Sometimes a new list of rules is coming out, but there is no control. There are bars that are irresponsible, they abuse due to the negligence of the government, “says MA Harold.

He explains that dishonest companies get a competitive advantage in this case: “We will definitely follow all the rules, we will review the opportunity passports, our members will follow the rules. We are not afraid of inspections, we are not afraid of mystery shoppers, but where are those mystery shoppers? There are secret buyers because of taxes and not because of the deadly virus. We don’t understand that at all and we want everyone to be in control. “

Gediminas Balnis, director of Amber Food, which operates restaurant chains such as Charlie Pizza, La Crepe, Katpėdėlė, etc., hopes that the company will have the opportunity to choose a location in the same institution only for people with passports, and the others without they.

“We have Vokiečių st. rooms on three floors: we are talking to be able to assign a floor or a room for everyone, where 2 people can sit, without a passport, and let’s say that the next floor is only for visitors with a passport. There are people who want to feel safe so that, if possible, they can choose only the place that is destined for them ”, says G. Balnis.

According to him, in the near future, passports will be chosen by the most expensive restaurants, as well as those that specialize in organizing birthdays and other celebrations, banquets, as well as those that do not have outdoor tables.

“However, most restaurants in supermarkets will choose to operate without a passport during the transition period until September 13. It is also difficult for people to plan: if they have tables outside and it starts to rain, then there are two people, but they will still have the opportunity to sit inside and finish eating. We just want to thank you for the fact that the decisions weren’t easy, we were left with a choice, “says G. Balnis.

Theaters are still dark: they will ask for a passport of opportunity as soon as they can

Representatives of the cinemas say they have long waited for the opportunity to allow visitors to remove their masks, order popcorn or drinks.

“We are waiting for what the gentlemen will say, they will write more precisely, we will read, and if the writing matches their words, theaters will move to passport work as soon as possible,” says Gintaras Plytnikas, director of Cines Forum.

It is not yet clear what the restrictions might be next week; the decisions of the head of the operations center have not yet been issued.

“In this kingdom we hear different opinions: sometimes we hear one on Friday, the second on Monday, and the third on Wednesday. That is, if all opinions are put together in writing on Monday, and as promised, we will start working on opportunity passports as soon as possible. We have mentioned to the Government, and in particular to the SAM, that we are ready to work with the GP since mid-July. It was just that we were discriminated against and no one ignored our wishes and disposition, and our viewers were scapegoats, whether with a GP or without, everything is the same, ”said G. Plytnik.

Raimundas Bilinskas, Marketing Director of Multikino, also assured that first of all we need to make decisions in writing.

“We want to receive all the letters to be able to evaluate when it is more likely that we can start working with passports of opportunity. We have already discussed the issue with the authorities before, back in June, and we expected the possibility of introducing passports in our activities a little earlier. Now we have to wait for the decisions of the director of operations, how exactly the GP will be controlled, what activities are possible, not what restrictions, if they are maintained, etc. “- explained R. Bilinskas.

I would like 4 people at the table

Evalda Šiškauskienė, director of the Lithuanian Hotel and Restaurant Association, says that negotiations with the government on the restrictions are taking place until the last day.

“We liked the fact that he promised to allow our sector to introduce those opportunity passports before September 13. It seems that now there is an alternative, there will be time to prepare. We are also coordinating with two ministries that if activities are restricted, with distances and all the security requirements, so that now you can organize weddings, birthdays or other events with a passport ”, says E. Šiškauskienė.

It is true that he does not believe that many companies in the sector would choose to operate only with passports of opportunity as of Monday.

“Well, you know, when an alternative, an opportunity passport, or closed businesses, we choose opportunity passports, without a doubt,” says E. Šiškauskienė.

It ensures that hotel guests lived and will continue to live here, security requirements were normal, both institutions and customers adapted to it.

“The government has heard of buffets that at safe distances, not the visitors themselves, but the employees put the dishes in the buffet. This satisfies us because menu catering, especially in the districts, would be a disaster. Surely the government has taken a lot into account, we continue talking. He also took restaurants into account – he wanted to be able to enter passports earlier for them, for supermarkets later – it would be difficult, because you would not need a passport when entering a supermarket, but when entering a restaurant. This has also been taken into account ”, says E. Šiškauskienė.

Still, she would take the position that 2 people at a table is too strict a restriction.

“Of course, it’s a bit bad for us: up to 4 people could be at safe distances. The tables come in a variety of sizes, where they are small, no one will really get caught. And the fines are steep, which will force the company to comply. The restaurants and hotels are really ready, and the staff and guests no longer have problems, “said the director of the association.

She is convinced that the passport of opportunity will pay more than Monday, since most people can get it today. Among hotel restaurant workers, “a very small percentage does not want to be vaccinated, but there is always an alternative to testing.”

Sports clubs expect passports to be needed from September 13.

Vidmantas Šiugždinis, director of sports club chains Impuls Lemon Gymn, expects nothing to change for visitors next week, and the passport of opportunity will be required on September 13, when the restrictions approved on Wednesday come into effect.

“It seems that according to the latest instructions from the Government, sports clubs on September 13 will have to work only with family doctors. And if that’s really enshrined in the operations manager’s instructions, then I’d say it’s a good thing the government has listened and hasn’t assigned sports clubs to some separate service group. We will use GP all together, in different activities at the same time. It’s like a positive step, ”says V. Šiugždinis

He expressed the expectation that the population will understand and move to the “phase of an immunized society” as soon as possible.

“It was a difficult period for sports clubs, not a season. Now, at the beginning of the season, we can see from the experience of Latvian sports clubs that the number of clients is growing quite slowly, vaccination takes time, until people are fully vaccinated with two vaccines, it takes time. We want it to happen as soon as possible, so that during the active season, that is, from October to March, we can work with the widest possible audience, ”says V. Šiugždinis.

He admitted that he saw no other option after September 13 than the passport of opportunity.

“We don’t see any other solutions either, it just seems like everyone needs to focus, focus and move during this period. As a company, we encourage our employees and coaches to get vaccinated as soon as possible, we have already exceeded 80 percent. your staff. We also encourage clients, so we give them free visits after vaccination. We simply strive to make everyone feel safe as soon as possible, including through sports, to improve their health, ”said V. Šiugždinis.