Rebellion? Hungarian caterers to reopen even though lockdown is in effect
Hungarian restaurant owners are fed up with lockdown, so many of them announced that they would reopen their places on February 1. They say that they had to close three months ago, but now they are on the edge of bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Róbert Kiss, member of the operative body, said that those who do not accept the rules would be fined, together with their guests.
According to index.hu, a group of restaurant owners decided to organise a demonstration if the government does not lift the lockdown. They say that if they do not act, they will not have a job.
Imre Csernus, a famous Hungarian psychiatrist who owns a café and restaurant, also supports the movement because caterers will go bankrupt if nothing changes. He added that even though restaurant owners are aware of the dangers of the virus, they are now more concerned
for their future living and the crisis currently affecting their bars, shops, and restaurants.
Mr Csernus added that it is hard to understand why he cannot welcome 20-30 people keeping a safe distance from one another in his café, while he can go to buy bread, during which he can meet 200 people in the supermarket. “This is a paradox caterers are accepting harder and harder,” he said.
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A peaceful consensus would be crucial because both the state and the tourism sector are in trouble. The budget deficit increased significantly because of the sector’s closure, and people working in it do not see how they will be able to provide food for their families. If people fall into depression, that will affect their immune system badly, which, in the current situation, can cause severe problems, said the psychiatrist.
The anti-lockdown movement began in Italy and swept through Europe in the last few weeks. In Poland, for example, there is already an application showing which shops, restaurant, fitness centres, or hairdressers are open.
On Friday, Központ, a restaurant in the downtown of Budapest, opened, but police showed up hours later, closed the place for 60 days, and fined its owners for HUF 500,000 (EUR 1,400),
24.hu reported. The owner of the restaurant said that they opened using their last financial resources. Customers could come to take food away, they let only four people inside, coordinated the queue to help people keep the 1.5-metre distance, and warned them to wear a face mask. However, the police arrived and sent their guests away.
In Nagykanizsa, the owner of a local bar announced that he would open his place on February 1 despite the lockdown, 444.hu reported. He added that the government does not help, and they would like to survive.
Source: 24.hu, 444.hu, index.hu