The association that represents food services and restaurants in B.C. is asking its members to adhere to COVID-19 regulations as case numbers spiked over the weekend.
B.C. has reported an average of just over 30 cases for the past five days, with Saturday numbers reaching 51 new cases.
Ian Tostenson, president and CEO of the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association, said restaurants need to follow best practices if they want the $14-billion industry to survive.
91裸聊视频淚t gets into consumer confidence91裸聊视频� they go 91裸聊视频榤aybe I should stay in,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频漈ostenson said of the recent spike in COVID-19 cases, some of which have been connected to restaurants.
91裸聊视频淔or some people, who don91裸聊视频檛 want to take this seriously, they shouldn91裸聊视频檛 be in the business.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淲e have to accept responsibility as an industry because we should understand what the protocols are.91裸聊视频�
B.C.91裸聊视频檚 top doctor announced a tightening of regulations for the restaurant sector, including banning liquor self-service and minimizing 91裸聊视频渢able hopping91裸聊视频� inside restaurants and similar establishments. Dr. Bonnie Henry91裸聊视频檚 new order also emphasizes patrons being led to their tables, and only being allowed to go to the bathroom.
Tostenson described the COVID-19 restaurant experience as flying on an airplane, where you largely stay in your seat, with no wandering around the plane allowed.
91裸聊视频淲ith restaurants, you get in, go to your table, enjoy your meal and get out, no visiting or loitering or going to see your neighbour.91裸聊视频�
READ MORE:
Tostenson acknowledged the restaurant industry has not been immune to the complacency that other British Columbians have sunk into as numbers began to trend down in June.
91裸聊视频淎s the numbers went down, all of us started thinking 91裸聊视频榳ow, looking pretty good. It must be going away91裸聊视频� not realizing that it91裸聊视频檚 still there, it91裸聊视频檚 still transmittable. It91裸聊视频檚 still a formidable disease.91裸聊视频�
But while restauranteurs need to take responsibility for following protocols, Tostenson said patrons should familiarize themselves with the rules as well.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 two metres between tables, or a barrier91裸聊视频� [but consumers] don91裸聊视频檛 realize that,91裸聊视频� he said.
READ MORE:
Tostenson said he91裸聊视频檚 not particularly concerned about the lack of capacity maximums in restaurants. When dine-in service was allowed to y, there was a 50 per cent capacity limit 91裸聊视频� something that many establishments said made in financially unfeasible to stay open. Currently, as long as two metres of distance is maintained and there are no more than six people at a table.
If people are seeing more than six people at tables? 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 wrong. If they91裸聊视频檙e doing it inadvertently, let91裸聊视频檚 get it corrected. If they91裸聊视频檙e doing because they91裸聊视频檙e just doing it, they shouldn91裸聊视频檛 be operating.91裸聊视频�
And while masks are encouraged, they91裸聊视频檙e not required, Tostenson said.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 confusing,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e going to make a very strong suggestion that we, as an industry, make masks necessary so we91裸聊视频檙e sending more of a consistent message.91裸聊视频�
Tostenson said that while he91裸聊视频檚 heard concerns that staff at restaurants don91裸聊视频檛 want to wear masks, his response has been simple: 91裸聊视频淲ho cares. It91裸聊视频檚 bigger than that.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频� With files from Ashley Wadhwani/Black Press Media
Like us on and follow us on .
Want to support local journalism during the pandemic? Make a donation
