Shops and restaurants in Cua Lo are preparing to reopen to welcome customers.

After more than a month of suspending business due to the pandemic, Mr. Vu Van Yen, restaurant owner atCua Lo Townreopened with his family on the morning of September 21. Due to being closed for a long time, cleaning, wiping down the shop, tables and chairs, and preparing food took a lot of time.

Restaurants and eateries in Cua Lo town are cleaning and refurbishing their shops to reopen after a long break due to the pandemic. Photo: Quang An

Mr. Yen shared: "After hearing the news that food services were allowed to reopen, I was very excited. From early morning, my family and I went to tidy up the restaurant, contacted suppliers to prepare seafood and drinks, and also informed the employees who had quit their jobs to be ready to go back to work...".

Not only Mr. Yen but also hundreds of households doing food service business in Cua Lo coastal city. After a long period of suspension due to the epidemic, income has decreased, so this time when reopening, besides the excitement, most business owners are cautious and fully equipped with anti-epidemic equipment to ensure safety.

Shops have proactively equipped themselves with hand sanitizer and masks to prevent the epidemic according to regulations. Photo: Quang An

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy, owner of a restaurant in Cua Lo town, shared: "The first thing I did when I reopened was to buy a box of masks and hand sanitizer to equip customers and staff. In addition, when customers come in, we arrange tables far apart to limit contact. Now everyone understands the danger of the epidemic, so people's awareness is very high. If we are unfortunately closed again, the damage will be so great that no one dares to be subjective."

According to the reporter's records, although restaurants and eateries in the central area of ​​Cua Lo town have reopened and been refurbished on the morning of September 21, many kiosks are still closed despite being allowed to reopen, especially the row of kiosks in Nghi Huong and Nghi Hoa wards of the town that are almost not open for business.

Restaurants prepare seafood to serve tourists. Photo: Quang An

Ms. Tinh, owner of a kiosk in Nghi Huong ward, Cua Lo town, said: "We are not opening yet but are focusing on monitoring and listening to the number of customers because if we open without customers, we will lose more revenue. The tourist season is over, students have started the new school year, not to mention that there are very few visitors from other provinces, local visitors often go to the beach and rarely stay or use services, so we have to consider and calculate carefully whether to open at this time or not...".

Due to the first day of reopening, the number of customers at Cua Lo was quite low, and everyone was arranged to sit apart to ensure safety. Photo: Quang An

Through discussion, Mr. Hoang Van Phuc - Vice Chairman of Cua Lo Town People's Committee said: "There are currently about 350 food service establishments in the town. Currently, only about 50% of the establishments have reopened, concentrated in the central area. The rest are currently temporarily closed because traditionally, they usually do not operate from September because the tourist season is over. In addition, this time is also the rainy season, so some households have also packed up tables, chairs, and equipment to temporarily close their businesses for a while, waiting until next summer to reopen.

Because the announcement of allowing business services to resume operations has just been made, the number of customers in the first days is still quite low. In addition to strengthening the inspection force and handling violations of epidemic prevention, the town will also hold meetings and havesupport plan, encourage businesses affected by the pandemic in the coming time" - Mr. Phuc added.

Many shops and stalls remained closed on the morning of September 21 despite being allowed to reopen. Photo: Quang An

Previously,People's Committee of Cua Lo Townissued Plan No. 133/KH-TTCH on September 20, accordingly, Cua Lo Town allows commercial and service establishments such as wholesale, retail, hotels, accommodation establishments, restaurants, eateries, sports training areas, relic sites, and scenic spots to resume operations but must implement measures to ensure safety and disease prevention such as: Providing protective equipment for employees, measuring body temperature of arriving guests; fully arranging means and supplies for hand washing, disinfection at the facility and ensuring distance when in contact...