– We have to close the doors – VG

The restaurant and nightlife industry is desperate for the adjustment that took effect Tuesday night and is struggling to understand how they will survive with the new distance rule.

Now the rule is that places that serve food and drink must ensure at least one meter of distance between seats, when guests arrive and sit at the table.

– If you want to comply to the letter, it means that we must close the doors, says the co-owner of the Bass restaurant and EFFEF Østersbar in Oslo Torstein Voksø Eek.

He says the restaurant will lose half of its seats.

– So we only have room for 14 guests at Bass, and it doesn’t work.

Høie: The guests have had to take responsibility

Health Minister Bent Høie (H) says that the restaurant has fulfilled its obligation, if they ensure that the table is laid out for at least a meter from shoulder to shoulder.

– Then it is we, as guests, who must assume the responsibility of also keeping our distance on the road. If we are family or live together, we can get closer, if we want, says Høie.

Explain the background for clarification of the requirements for restaurants.

– It was experienced that if one was a group of co-workers who went out to eat, the table was set as if it were a family that came to visit, says the Minister of Health.

He says guests have experienced inconvenience from asking for a greater distance.

– So it was very easy not to do a lot of things, to sit down and avoid the practical challenges it created when restaurants didn’t have the space to house so many.

– Have not the restaurants been good enough to facilitate the counter among the guests?

– They broke the intention in the regulation, if they let a group that had reserved a table, sit together as if they were in a family. Because they know that this is not always the case.

– Have the authorities seen with their fingers that the purpose of the claim was broken?

– No, but we are increasingly aware that this has become a problem. Therefore, we needed to make this clarification.

– Has there been any ambiguity on your part?

– We do not mean it, but the regulations have become clearer. In reality, this has not been clear, but the practice has been incorrect, says Health Minister Bent Høie.

The health authorities have asked us to stay one or two meters from others, but how far is it actually two meters? It may be longer than you think!

Two tables for two people

Bass’ Torstein Voksø Eek believes that it is not possible to meet the requirement and have sustainable operations. The health minister says the requirement is conceivable to have financial consequences.

– But the alternative for the industry is much worse. It’s that we’ve lost control of the infection and restaurants have to shut down completely, says Bent Høie.

Christer Rødseth, head chef at Vaaghals and co-owner of Code Restaurant in Oslo, says the subway rule makes it very difficult for the restaurant industry.

– This means that you then need two tables for two guests instead of one, says Rødseth.

He points out that many restaurants have already reduced their capacity by half and will lose additional seats, as a result of the clarification of the national requirement.

To make up for the number of seats lost, he believes restaurants will try to reduce seating times so they can have more seats during the night.

– We really do not want to contribute to further infection and we have implemented various routines to prevent this. Guests feel cared for by the routines that exist.

The owner of the restaurant in Oslo points out that the infection rates in nightclubs are very low, compared to other social gatherings.

– It is at house parties and large events where the risk of infection is highest, says Rødseth.

Guests are also responsible

Eli Vorkinn, Oslo’s municipal director for industry and property, says in an email to the city’s restaurant industry that the rule hits the industry hard, but writes that the new requirement is not something the municipality has the authority to do. opportunity to influence.

– We have been in contact with the national authorities and received confirmation that the one meter requirement between all guests applies when booking and upon arrival. It is not a requirement that the nightclub ensure that this counter is maintained throughout the visit, writes the municipal director.

The Minister of Health reminds that restaurant diners also have a responsibility.

– In this context, it is important that we think about the place we visit, which we often love. If we break the rules, it can affect that place and contribute to the spread of the infection, says Høie.