The Ministry of Health is going to present a new proposal of measures today to the Canary Islands Government to stop the advance of the coronavirus, of which the hospitality industry can be exempt, for at least one hour (until 11pm) from the curfew in Level 3 Islands.
After listening to the sector at the Negotiation Table on several occasions, the Ministry of Health has accepted this recurring request from the hospitality industry. The sector assures that the curfew is of great detriment to their businesses, alluding to the fact that this imposition forces them to lose practically all dinner service in restaurants.
According to the sector, the 10pm curfew accounts for losses of up to 30% in restaurants with respect to their billing, which they could get back if they were allowed to stay open just one hour later. If the decrease in turnover implicit in capacity limitations is added to this, "the losses reach 60% and up to 75%".
Restaurant owners say that, when the Government allows them to close at 11pm or later, as in levels 1 and 2, they are capable of “protecting their business”. But, having to close at ten o'clock forces many local owners to decide to close even earlier out of choice, once the meals are over.
"To give a good dinner service we should start at around 7:30pm, but this custom is more common among foreigners," insists Ramón Fariña, president of the Tenerife Association of Restoration and Leisure Entrepreneurs (AERO). "Many restaurateurs have decided to close at after lunch," says Fermín Sánchez, president of the Association of Entrepreneurs of Bars, Cafes, Restaurants and Leisure of Las Palmas (Aebcryo), which indicates that even so, the losses amount to 50% of the turnover. This is normal given the lower influx of customers for meals and mid-morning service, as a consequence of the fact that a large part of employees, private and public, are teleworking or still in ERTE.
The proposal, although accepted by the Ministry of Health, must still be accepted by the rest of the Government of the Canary Islands. To do this, it will be presented to the President of the Government, Ángel Víctor Torres, who, in turn, will transfer it to the rest of the members of the Governing Council and there it will be decided what decision to take in this regard.
Review of the regulations:
At today's meeting of the Governing Council there will also be a general review of the current measures, in order to adapt them to the current scenario. This was announced last Thursday by the government spokesman, Julio Pérez, who pointed out that his intention was to "incorporate some results of the experiences and observations that users send us."
In this sense, today the possibility of allowing leisure trips between islands at level 3 will also be discussed, presenting a negative diagnostic test, as established during Easter. The new proposed measures will allow setting the restrictions that will remain in force once the state of alarm ends, on May 9th.
According to the president, Ángel Victor Torres, once the state of alarm finishes, he will seek a formula to maintain control at airports and ports. The will of the regional Executive "is to preserve health security to the maximum".
