Catering industry responds to stricter rules: ‘As if corona is hanging in the music and the lamps’

On Friday evening it became clear that from Sunday after 00:00 cafes, bars and restaurants are no longer allowed to allow guests in. “And the lights must be switched off at 1:00 am”, Rotterdam mayor Aboutaleb added on behalf of the Safety Region. Willemsen speaks of symbol politics. “The people who go out of the cafe don’t go to sleep. They throw parties at home, illegally and in poorly ventilated areas.”

His colleague Jasper Swartjes of Locus Publicus on the Oostzeedijk in Rotterdam, where many students always come, adds: “These are very strange measures. What can you do here; lights on, music off. As if corona is hanging in the music and the lights.” According to Swartjes, the hour that he now has to close earlier makes the difference to still make a little turnover. “If we lose that now too. Jesus, where are we going ?!”

The people don’t go to sleep, who leave the cafe. They will throw parties at home, illegally in poorly ventilated areas

The hospitality industry has been hit hard by the corona crisis, the two Rotterdammers emphasize. With the lockdown from 15 March, the doors remained completely closed for two and a half months, from the beginning of June it was allowed to pour again, but in moderation. The number of guests was limited so that people would not sit or stand too close together in small spaces.

‘It is not possible to tackle the real sources of infection’

There is no reason whatsoever to further tighten this strict regime, Willemsen believes. He cites the official figures which, according to him, show that the catering industry is not really a source of infection. “Last week 113 infections per 15 million individual visitors. That’s a fraction of zero-point-very-many-zeros-seven. That’s really nothing. And then you’re going to give such an industry this blow. It is very bad,” very bad. “

That way you don’t get rid of corona

Willemsen also points out that many more infections are reported in nursing homes ‘with much less traffic’. The real hit falls in the home situation, where sixty percent of the infections are reported. The entrepreneur speaks of symbolic politics, proof that it is not possible to tackle the real sources of contamination and real problems. According to him, ‘apparently’ the information in certain groups falls short and the cabinet is not succeeding in getting the testing capacity in order. “From the moment of reporting to the test and the results, it will be five to six days on the road. And so we will use strong language and tackle the catering industry.”

Catering entrepreneurs to the Malieveld

The foreman of Koninklijke Horeca Nederland is extra disappointed because, according to him, the cabinet had promised to consult with the sector first about new measures. That did not happen and it was not the first time. “Somehow we don’t seem to matter.” Swartjes also cannot understand it with his head: “You cannot just decide this, I think. Who are they that we have to switch off the lights, switch on the light, close the door. That way you don’t get rid of corona.”

The sector has not been lucrative for months, but has reluctantly cooperated with the measures. “Frustrating”, says Willemsen, who also points to the irony that demonstrating is still allowed. “We kept going, because we keep hoping that there will be light at the end of the tunnel. We did not want to demonstrate at the Malieveld. But I will think about it very carefully for the next 24 hours.”

Leefbaar Rotterdam and D66 have now asked the Board questions about the new closing times for the catering industry.

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