With rising cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, the DDMA has ordered fresh restrictions till New Year. This has dampened any hope that restaurants in Delhi had of recovering from the losses faced due to the first and second Covid waves.
If you are in Delhi and were all set to let your hair down this Christmas and New Year’s, you are up for disappointment. In the light of the increasing number of Omicron cases, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has extended its Covid-related curbs till December 31 midnight.
MASKS, SANITISERS, TEMPERATURE CHECKS MUST
Rules pertaining to masks, social distancing, temperature checks, and limited seating will apply to any outing on New Year’s Eve. The DDMA has banned social and cultural gatherings and put a cap on bars and restaurants to operate with 50% of their seating capacity.
Apart from this, the order continued the restriction on banquet halls to hold events other than meetings and conferences, exhibitions, and weddings.
The order came as a blow to the restaurant industry, which was eyeing the upcoming festivities with the hope of recovering ground lost due to the first two waves of Covid-19.
OMICRON TO IMPACT HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY THIS FESTIVE SEASON
Speaking about the impact the order will have on the hospitality industry, President of the National Restaurant Association of India Kabir Suri said, “We are optimistically cautious about the festive season Christmas and New Year’s Eve. All restaurants are taking every precaution possible, but the onus also lies with those who are organising large-scale events.”
“As an industry, we were looking at making a recovery this season. But the Omicron variant of coronavirus has changed everything. We are now treading with caution and following all Covid protocols,” he added.
According to Kabir, the responsibility shouldn’t just lie with restaurant owners and managers. It is the collective duty of everyone associated with the industry. “Those who are organising large-scale events should ask their guests for vaccination certificates. As restaurant owners, we can check the temperature, maintain social distancing, keep sanitisers on every table. But they also need to keep gatherings small and make sure all checks are in place,” he added.
Bijendra, Manager at Dhaba by Claridges in Connaught Place, told India Today, “We are following all the protocols. Only 50% of the seating capacity is allowed. For New Year’s Eve, we are taking reservations but only up to 50% of the seating capacity. Our seating capacity is 85, but at any given point of time we allow only 40 people to be seated.”
For the hospitality sector, this festive season was supposed to bring a turnaround, but rising Omicron cases globally as well as in India have forced the government and the authorities to reinforce restrictions.
The organised Indian food services industry, which was estimated to be worth around Rs 4,95,993 crore in FY 2020-21, barely managed to generate 40% of the estimated revenues and landed at Rs 2,00,762 crore. The sector saw its sales slide by 90% against the pre-Covid numbers when Covid cases were surging across the country, in the May-July quarter this year.
ENFORCING ORDERS AN UPHILL TASK
However, though restrictions have been ordered, enforcing them will be arduous.
Sanjiv Mehra, President of Khan Market Association, told India Today, “The DDMA has asked associations to take the onus for enforcing protocols. Associations are doing it, but we cannot legally force people to do it; we can do it only morally.”
“Associations can nudge people, but at the end of the day, people need to follow protocols. Remember it’s your health and you need to take care of it,” he added.
PATRONS WILLING TO COMPLY
Pragati, a customer at a restaurant, said, “We also need to follow protocols. We must not forget what Delhi had gone through during the second wave.” ” I don’t want to unnecessarily go to crowded places,” she said.
COVID ESSENTIALS
– Masks
– Sanitisers
– Limited seating capacity
– Onus of maintaining crowds lies with market associations
WHAT’S NOT ALLOWED
– More than 50% Seating Capacity
– Large Events
– Social, cultural gatherings
– Political gatherings
RULES OF RESTAURANTS
– Customers must get their temperature checked
– Only 50% of the seating capacity allowed
– Scanner on every table for menu
– Limited contact with waiters and servers
– One-time use napkins/cutlery
