WILLEMSTAD - From today it is again allowed for restaurants on Curaçao to receive both indoor and outdoor diners. This after restaurants had to close their doors from December 1 last year or only allow guests to dine on the terrace.
Restaurants have had an extra hard time with the corona measures in the last month of 2020, especially because the “lei seku” (alcohol ban) came into effect. That meant that restaurants were not allowed to serve alcohol.
Prohibition was lifted on 13 January and dining may again be accompanied by a glass of alcohol. On Tuesday, January 19, the government announced that guests can now also sit inside. This as long as no more than 50 percent of the maximum capacity of the restaurant is used and the guests at the table come from the same household.
The Curaçao Restaurant Association (CRA) is happy with the easing, because now also restaurants that only have the option to sit inside can open again.
After consultation with the government and a letter in which the CRA urged for relaxation, relief has now come to that measure. There are conditions attached to opening the indoor section, such as the distance between tables and face masks for staff.
The CRA finds it understandable that the government is concerned about infection in indoor spaces and says it wants to cooperate with the set conditions. These conditions have been established after consultation between the CRA and the relevant authorities.
"The most important thing was to give restaurants the possibility to receive guests again, especially after other venues were also allowed to open," CRA said in a press release.
The CRA is satisfied that through good communication and consultation, all parties can work on a solution. However, the organization regrets that some catering establishments on the island, including bars, cafes and beach clubs, did not comply with the corona rules last weekend.
The association is working hard to get the measures relaxed and urges its members to comply with all rules. "The public was in great need of a night out, but it is not good to see that some places do not have their own controls and organization in order."
According to the association of restaurants, the many violations can lead to stricter measures. While they have battled hard to get these off the table.