‘Don’t blame restaurants for surge’

While the accuracy of deaths and infections owed to Covid-19 continues to be debated, the National Coronavirus Command Council has apparently recommended a

10pm curfew; the resumption of alcohol sale restrictions from Monday to Thursday; and for pubs to close at 9pm as the best way forward.

This is according to Restaurants Association of SA CEO Wendy Alberts in light of identified hotspots in the Western

Cape and Eastern Cape, following a sharp surge in cases in the Nelson Mandela Bay, the Sarah Baartman District and along the Garden Route.

But as the method of keeping a second wave as minimally disastrous as possible is being figured out by authorities, various industries fi nd themselves in a more economically uncertain space than just a few months ago.

Specifically, the restaurant industry, which has been largely blamed for contributing to the resurgence of infections.

However, this has been vehemently disputed by Alberts.

“There is no evidence to suggest that we are responsible for spreading it. But no contact tracing has been done in the sector, and no authorities have come to collect our registers.

“No authorities have contacted any establishments to follow up,” she said.

“Government needs to take responsibility and look at interventions, and work with the industry.

“Covid-19 will be here for long, but we can’t keep crippling our industry, our economy... It’s just before the festive season, jobs are needed, and we need support from government.”

We can’t keep crippling our industry