HOSPITALITY bosses in the North have urged the Stormont Executive to follow the Republic’s guidelines on reducing social distancing in a bid to save jobs and businesses.
Draft guidelines in the Republic of Ireland suggest that restaurants and pubs that serve food may be able to reduce the two-metre physical distancing restriction to one-metre when they reopen.
This is only in certain circumstances – and for a maximum of 90 minutes.
The draft document, ‘Covid-19: Guidance for Food Service Businesses’, was drawn up by the HPSC, following a request for further clarity from tourism agency, Fáilte Ireland.
In a statement, Fáilte Ireland said the guidance is aimed at facilitating the safe reopening of food service businesses, including pubs that serve food.
Earlier this week, the Stormont Executive announced that hotels, bars and restaurants can reopen in the North of Ire;and on Friday, July 3 for the first time since March when the lockdown was introduced.
Hospitality owners said the two metre rule would only allow them to operate at 50 per cent capacity which may not be financially viable.
However, a one metre rule would allow hotels, bars and restaurant to operate at 70 per cent capacity.
From Friday, July 3, hotels, bars and restaurants in North to reopen
“The difference between two metres and one metre can be the difference between being open or not,” he said.
“With one metre, you can have 70% of turnover and you break even and then we can bring staff back and save jobs and regrow the industry,” he said.
He said “practical and sensible” advice was needed.
“If it happens in the Republic and it shows it’s doable – we should be looking at timescales and other mitigations like face masks,” he said.
“I do feel England will move to something similar.
“It is the difference a small number of our premises being able to open and a lot,” he added.
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