First closing night in Madrid: "The following is an ERTE ... and then an ERE"

• Covid.Madrid starts the bolt with fear of "chaos" and the economic crisis

• Almeida.Doubts about "the effectiveness" of the measures to close Madrid: "Life will continue almost the same"

At 9:59 p.m. on Friday,

at the

two couples were finishing their last beer at the bar.

"Now we'll have to go to the table, that's what we have to do," one of them commented with resignation.

For his part, another of the diners, not without a certain sense of humor, exclaimed: "1, 2, 3. The virus is attacking us! ... Let them explain it to me."

The owner of the establishment, Jesús, was not so optimistic: "This is ruin, if they close the bar and cut my hours, the following

then in ERE ".

A minute later

restriction measures entered into force

against the coronavirus in Madrid and nine municipalities of the Community.

Once again, one of the most affected sectors is once again

the hospitality:

60% capacity on the terrace, 50% inside, forbidden to serve at the bar and closing at 11 p.m. The new reality has created

two kinds of bars:

one that has gained an hour and clientele (since neighbors from other neighborhoods and from all health center demarcations can now go), and another that has lost the second dinner service.

The latter has been the case of the Jesús store, in the Madrid neighborhood of Canillejas. Since the pandemic broke out, it has done nothing but lose customers, and with the new measures it has no hope of getting more.

"Between the fact that we don't know exactly what we have to do, and that things are getting worse and worse ... I don't know what will happen," he admitted.

"It's time to follow the rules and resist"

.

Rafa, in charge of

The Llagar

, I had everything ready even before the cut-off time was set.

The bar, completely clear except for the hydroalcoholic gels, and the clients finishing their dinner.

On Friday the tables inside were almost full, not the terrace.

"Luckily so far we have not noticed a drop in customers, although, of course, the cold is already raging." He is optimistic and even grateful to be able to close at eleven instead of ten.

"We were afraid that the same thing would happen as in the restricted areas and that we would not be able to finish giving the first dinner service," he explained.

"That would have been our undoing."

In the same square, another bar was celebrating a birthday, while in the place next door they took advantage of the terrace huddled in their coats.

But the silence was what stood out the most in the place.

A few weeks ago the voices were crashing against the buildings, and the bustle of the bars seemed to recall the times before the

pandemic.

But not anymore, Carolina well knows.

Its terrace, sheltered by the cold, was abuzz with people in September.

And his place, with just three tables, depended on the bar to make cash.

"Very bad, very bad, things are very bad," he explained, shaking his head.

DISCOUNT BETWEEN CUSTOMERS AND INCREASED CONTROL

The bleak situation also worries customers themselves, who see how

the sector is sinking.

Whatever tavern, bar or restaurant you go to, the main topics of conversation are the coronavirus and the economy.

And given the new regulations, even more so. "We know that measures must be taken, but please explain to me why the virus is dangerous at eleven o'clock and not at seven."

This complaint from a parishioner is the summary of the opinion of the vast majority of regulars who go to bars on Friday, who had to shorten their night and finish the last night at home.

At eleven o'clock the noise of plates clashing, brooms and blinds coming down broke the silence.

The last stragglers were thrown out by the waiters.

"Now we just need to have problems with the police." Controls have increased to ensure compliance with the laws.

In Canillejas on Friday night, no police presence was observed to monitor the compliance of the restaurants.

But in

the first controls could already be seen in different parts of the city.

According to sources from the government delegation, they settled on Avenida de los Poblados before reaching the A-42, in Méndez Alvaro before the M-30, on Avenida de la Ilustracion with José Molina and on Calle Princesa a the height of the district of Moncloa, among others.

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