Governor Edwards is expected to provide additional guidance today ahead of tomorrow’s order allowing customers to eat take out outside of restaurants.
Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says this hasn’t been the most cohesive launch of guidelines he’s seen, and some important questions still need to be answered.
“Some directives on table spacing and thing like that, if they wanted to use a temporary tent what they could do there, but again they are not providing table service they are just providing takeout food,” says Harris.
Harris says most of the communication on this order his members have had so far has been with local officials.
Despite the lack of specificity, Harris says he is glad the state is allowing it. He says the restaurant industry is taking heavy losses and any chance to offer more services is appreciated.
“Rent does not go away, utilities do not go away, insurance does not go away and your lack of revenue is going to impact everyone down the supply chain and back,” says Harris.
Harris says companies are also sorting out how to partially reopen indoor dining in the near future. He says between supply chain disruptions in the meat industry and staffing questions it’s tough.
“The sooner that they have an idea on when the launching point will be the better it is going to be to pull that information and staff together and figure out what their menu is going to look like and how they are going to operate,” says Harris.
The Governor has suggested he could implement Phase One, allowing restaurants to open at 25% capacity, by mid-May.
Comments