On November 28th we will vote on the Covid law. Among other things, the law also deals with the certificate. We spoke to the host of the Löwen restaurant in Grosshöchstetten. He’s against the certificate. He wants to open up to all guests.
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BERN-OST: Bruno Kolb, the certificate has been valid in restaurants since September – how’s it going?
Bruno Kolb junior: Since the introduction, it has been clearly worse in terms of sales. Compared to 2019, we have a 50 percent drop in sales.
What is the reason for the decline?
That is difficult to say. If I knew I would do something about it. There was a change from the certificate date. On the one hand, the guests feel safer, on the other hand, fewer come. Imagine a group of four people want to eat out. Three have a certificate, one does not.
Then the person can be tested without a certificate.
No, not. They don’t go to Bern especially for testing and come to eat at the Löwen. It is also not the case that the three come with a certificate and the one without does not come. They don’t come and eat at home.
Would you rather not have a certificate?
My opinion is: open normally, anyone can come. We could also set up a special hall for people with a certificate. Anyone who is afraid of being infected can consume there. I would like to entertain everyone. We are an open house, everyone is welcome. The fact that I can only let in guests with a certificate contradicts my attitude.
This is how you might provoke another lockdown.
We do not know that. Since many are vaccinated, a lockdown is no longer necessary. Whoever wanted to be vaccinated could do so. We would prefer to open up and take the risk than to raid ourselves with certification. If there was a lockdown, then that would be the case. When we lockdown we close, I can apply for short-time work and get compensation.
Are you currently unable to apply for short-time work?
Yes, but at the moment it is difficult with short-time working because if a few people suddenly come in the evening, staff have to be present. So somebody has to be here that I have to pay, with the risk that nothing may go wrong. This scenario happens very often at the moment.
The difficult thing is the lack of planning security in the short, medium and long term. We have no idea how long the mandatory certificate will remain. All we know is that it will run until at least January 24th. Nobody knows what comes next.
How do you vote for the November 28th vote?
I agree no.
[i] Bruno Kolb and his father run the inn Lions in Grosshöchstetten since May 2017. Der Löwen offers hotel rooms in the middle of the village of Grosshöchstetten. There is space for 40 people in the dining room and 12 people in the white table. The lion also has a vaulted cellar with a fireplace and a small stage for concerts, readings or parties.
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