Home » Business » REACTIONS. “This Black Friday will set the hospitality industry in the red” – “Satisfied that our signal was taken to heart by politicians” | Coronavirus what you need to know

REACTIONS. “This Black Friday will set the hospitality industry in the red” – “Satisfied that our signal was taken to heart by politicians” | Coronavirus what you need to know

The Consultation Committee has proposed a new package of measures. As expected, the new measures are not universally welcomed. A selection of the responses.




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Matthias De Caluwé: “This Black Friday will cause red numbers in the hospitality industry”

The Consultation Committee decided, among other things, that restaurants and cafes must close their doors by 11 p.m. at the latest. In addition, no more than six people are allowed to sit around a table, unless they are members of the same family. “This Black Friday will provide red numbers in the catering industry from tomorrow,” Matthias De Caluwe of Horeca Vlaanderen responds to VTM Nieuws. He regrets that “generic, symbolic measures are being taken in obvious sectors”.

For catering operators, crucial hours will be lost and they will also have capacity problems again now that only six people are allowed to sit at a table, Horeca Vlaanderen says. De Caluwe finds these six people “an odd figure”. “I’d like to see the scientific basis for that,” he says.

De Caluwe understands that measures must be taken throughout society, but denounces that the catering industry is again being hit hard. He lacks a “global approach”. “Time and again, a few sectors are hit hard,” it sounds.

He also calls for new support measures. “There is talk of Covid-21 instead of Covid-19; well, then new support measures are also needed in this phase. The same as before will not suffice.”

Federation of Cafés: “This is not possible without support measures”

The new corona measures for the catering industry will “not be possible without support measures”. That is what Erik Beunckens of the Federation of Cafés of Belgium (FedCaf) says. “We have always said that we want to show solidarity, and we will always do what we have to do to overcome this pandemic,” said Beunckens. “But again this will not be possible without support measures. Very important hours are lost. Catering visits are already decreasing, with fewer hours it will become enormously problematic.”

Beunckens also believes that this aid should be paid net. “We expect another 3,000 cafes to disappear in the next two years when they get their tax bills and have to return money on the support they have received in the past. We want people to know what support they get and not get a cold shower afterwards.”

Marc Van Ranst: “A different closing time in the Netherlands will ensure border traffic”

© Photo News


Virologist Marc Van Ranst believes that the Consultation Committee has proposed a large package of measures. “The only adjustment I would make now concerns the closing time of 11 p.m. for the catering industry, especially because the Netherlands will do things differently,” he told Het Journaal of One. “Then you get some border traffic.” In the Netherlands, there is an advice to close the catering industry at 5 p.m.

Van Ranst also expects a lot from the consultations between the education ministers next weekend. “That’s going to be hugely important to make it through the Christmas holidays,” he said.

The virologist also thinks it is important that centers are now set up where everyone can have themselves tested without an appointment. “That is a change in the test strategy that means that the pressure is relieved in the first line.”

Margot Cloet (Zorgnet-Icuro): “Satisfied that our signal was taken to heart by politicians”

BELGIAN

© BELGA


“We have been confronted with a very sharply rising curve in recent weeks,” says Margot Cloet of Zorgnet-Icuro. “So it will be very hard weeks in healthcare anyway. But we are pleased that today we see that our signals have been picked up and that action is being taken. It remains to be seen with trembling knees whether the measures are sufficient, so it is very important that all measures taken are followed very closely by everyone.”

Cloet fears that three weeks of measures will be insufficient. “Jo-yoing all winter is not an option for healthcare, we hope that politicians have followed the full advice of the experts and the rules are not released too quickly.”

According to Cloet, setting up walk-in test centers is a very good idea. “That will relieve primary care, people can be tested faster and immediately, we are very happy about that. Now the testing policy is absolute chaos, so it’s good that people are going to tackle that now.”

Tim Van Campenhout (Carré): “We have to reinvent ourselves every time”

Isabelle Ghosez of the Federation of Wedding Vendors: “Still too much unclear to speak of relief”

Uncertainty trumps the Federation of Marriage Suppliers after the Consultation Committee. Wedding parties are the exception to the new rule that prohibits private gatherings. Nevertheless, the federation is adopting a wait-and-see attitude. In the first place, it is good that marriages can continue this weekend according to the measures in force. But we would like to take a closer look at which measures exactly apply,” says Isabelle Ghosez.

According to the Consultation Committee, marriages must be organized with a corona pass from 50 people inside and 100 people outside and you can dance with mouth masks. However, the federation still has many questions. “We will await the ministerial decision so that we know all the details. As long as there are not too many restrictions, the weddings can continue and we as suppliers are satisfied. Fortunately, the end of the year is not our busiest season, although it is slightly busier due to all the postponed weddings.”

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