Hyderabad: Wine dealers and promoters of various establishments are stating that it was nearly impossible to maintain Covid norms that have been announced by the government inside pubs and restaurants. Self-restraint is the only way to tackle the spread of the disease, they said.
The government had on Saturday reiterated that masks were compulsory in places where people gather and insisted on physical distancing, among other measures.
Venkat Dalapathi of Wine Dealer’s Association said, “How many customers will adhere to the guidelines. It is difficult to maintain protocols inside such places,” he pointed out.
The fast-spreading Omicron variant of coronavirus is another worry.
“At the start of the year, the food and beverages industry was looking forward to the New Year as recovery looked promising. However, the second wave came as a surprise and now the new variant is indicating the possibility of a third wave,” said the manager of a popular bar-cum-restaurant.
“December accounts for about 20 per cent of the year’s food and beverage revenue,” he said.
Hyderabad police commissioner C.V. Anand said that ground-level enforcement has been intensified and teams will be formed to tackle Covid violations on New Year eve.
Anand said that a meeting will be held in a day to chalk-out measures to curb Covid violations on December 31. “We have asked both traffic and law and order police to intensify enforcement,” he said.
Cyberabad police commissioner Stephen Ravindra said that discussions are on to form teams for the same.
“Regardless of the Covid situation, regular rules for pubs will be in place. It is the responsibility of the managements of pubs and bars to make arrangements to provide drivers and cabs to customers,” an official of the city police said.
“The sound levels have to be below 45 decibels. Organizers have been warned against allowing firearms at any event,” the official said.
The state government’s order on Covid protocols at places of public gathering said events involving congregation of people must ensure physical distancing and wearing masks, thermometers/thermal scanners should be arranged at the entry point to scan everyone.
