Lockdown or QR system: what is worse according to Voronezh catering

Since October 11, a system of QR codes has been launched in the region. The impact of this decision is primarily taken by the catering sector. If earlier Voronezh establishments were allowed to work at least until midnight, now, even with a code, you can stay there until 21.00. The algorithm is built as follows: guests present QR codes either printed on paper or simply by displaying them on the screens of their mobile devices. Catering employees scan them using gadgets connected to the appropriate databases. Without such a system, catering establishments will only be able to operate takeaway and delivery orders.

RBC Chernozemye interviewed experts and representatives of the Voronezh business in order to find out how much the lockdown differs from the QR system. “As soon as information about the innovations came in, the entire restaurant industry sounded the alarm. We saw a catastrophic situation already on the first day - the drop in guest traffic was -70%. We think that most market players simply will not survive: restrictions and bans are growing with the complete absence of support from the authorities in the form of the abolition or reduction of taxes, subsidies, etc. BARak O'Mama, KinZa-Dza restaurant, Burger House restaurant, GREENCAFE cafe and Mesto Burger restaurant). The restaurateur expressed the opinion that all the current restrictions differ slightly from the lockdown. In the capital, there were other conditions for the survival of catering: the system did not work for long and with the support of the Moscow authorities, in addition, there were summer verandas. “Pushing the industry into a corner will not solve the coronavirus problem. It is obvious that he does not become more active after 21.00. Groups of people who used to gather in restaurants are now just going to visit each other, ”the Burger Group added.

Market participants note that during the total lockdown, businesses were on an equal footing - all business chains are ready to “wait and endure”. With a segmental approach, institutions have to work in the red, but at the same time fulfill all obligations to counterparties. “There is no talk of fighting the pandemic. I would ask the question in a different way: "How much longer can food service survive the planned and perverted destruction of the industry?". The first days of work showed a reduction in revenue by 50-70%, in addition, we saw a huge negative from visitors. A drop of even -15% is a serious problem, not to mention daily losses at -70%. The introduction of a system for visiting catering by codes and limiting work until 9 pm is much worse and harder than the complete closure of all organizations. This is the destruction of the industry at the expense of the business itself,”

This fall, with the advent of the next round of the pandemic, a huge number of regions are introducing the QR code system. “Unfortunately, many government officials are trying to take care of the well-being of the population in terms of health, but they forget about business, which still cannot get back on its feet after the first waves of coronavirus in 2020,” comments Kirill, Director of the Faculty of Business at Synergy University Bad. “Today, there are many large cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, where QR codes are not introduced, because they understand that this measure has a strong impact on business and causes resentment among citizens.”

Reference

Confirmation of protection against COVID-19 is considered to be either a course of vaccination, or an illness that has been transferred in the last six months, or the presence of a fresh document on a negative test. Voronezh citizens have limited access to public catering, sports clubs, fitness centers and swimming pools, zoos and oceanariums, museums and museum reserves, palace and park museums, cinemas, theater and concert organizations, circuses, sanatoriums, hotels, recreation centers, rest houses.