(Fighting New Coronary Pneumonia) Hong Kong Catering Industry's Mother's Day Business Ideal
China News Service, Hong Kong, May 10 (Reporter Zeng Ping) The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government relaxed some business restrictions in the catering industry under the "vaccine bubble" at the end of April.
Some people in the catering industry said in an interview with a reporter from China News Agency on the 10th that the overall business situation of the Hong Kong catering industry is satisfactory on Mother's Day this year, and the industry has resumed 80% of its business before the epidemic.
Another medical expert said that the restaurant’s risk is lower than in the past, but it is not absolutely safe. The most important thing is that it is still necessary to increase the population’s COVID-19 vaccination rate.
"On Mother's Day we achieved about 350 million Hong Kong dollars in business turnover, which is less than about 400 million Hong Kong dollars last year, but overall it is relatively ideal." Huang Jiahe, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Catering Industry Association, told reporters that there are many on Mother's Day. The restaurant is full and the business volume is better than expected. I believe this phenomenon will encourage more people in the industry to get the new crown vaccine.
Under the "vaccine bubble", if restaurant staff and diners have received the first or two doses of the new crown vaccine, and the diners use the "Travel with peace of mind" app, the restaurant can delineate different designated areas and relax different areas for dine-in according to different requirements. Business hours, maximum seating capacity, and maximum seating capacity per table.
Huang Jiahe said that during the Mother's Day, most restaurants still adopt the original operation model, but because the "vaccine bubble" can increase the restaurant's business hours and the number of diners, it is believed that more and more practitioners in the industry will be vaccinated. Meet the conditions for implementing the "vaccine bubble", so that more business can be done on Father's Day in June.
Especially in restaurants, wedding banquets or celebrations can be held under the "vaccine bubble", which allows them to see the hope of business.
He estimated that the current vaccination rate for the overall catering industry employees is about 50%, and restaurant employees are about 70%.
"We really hope to encourage more citizens to be vaccinated, so that we can achieve the effect of collective epidemic prevention. This is what we hope most." Huang Jiahe said that the catering industry has now resumed 80% of the business before the epidemic, but because of the usual pure industry Profits account for a low percentage of total business turnover, so a 20% loss in business still affects the unemployment rate in the industry.
Regarding the current risk of infection in restaurants, Tang Jisheng, vice president of the Hong Kong Medical Council Licensed Doctors Association, believes that “vaccine bubbles” and the use of “Travel with peace of mind” apps increase the safety of restaurants, but restaurants are always places where citizens will take off their masks. Invisible patients with or without symptoms are still at risk of spreading the virus.
In view of this, Tang Jisheng suggested that the next step should be to consider allowing people who have been vaccinated to eat in the restaurant.
"4.5 million to 5 million vaccinated is a relatively ideal number." Tang Jisheng said that Hong Kong is still far away from this number. Although Hong Kong’s economy is showing signs of recovery, it is very fragile. If the next wave of epidemic breaks out, the economy will surely fall into a state of paralysis again. He believes that Hong Kong citizens still have inherent misconceptions about vaccination, and the SAR government needs to reiterate that vaccination does not bring about the risk of death in order to dispel the public's doubts. (Finish)