On March 21, 2020, the CIVID -19 National Ministerial Committee heralded resolution of measures including the closure of night clubs and bars in a view to further strengthening social distancing and keeping coronavirus at bay.
Last Sunday, Ministry of Culture Tourism and Sport and Addis Ababa Hotel Owners Association had made sudden supervision visits to some hotels whether such service industry is applying carefully social distancing guidelines to prevent overcrowding of hotel customers or not.
On the occasion, Minister Dr. Hirut Kassaw witnessed that the hotels are making use the guidance issued by the government as most the hotels have closed down bars and night clubs.
The minister also lauded the hotels’ commitment in providing sanitizer and other services in a way that can avert contagion among customers.
As to her, the hotels have equipped themselves with the needed sanitizer to curb the virus and some of them are also partially offered paid leave for workers in order to stay home.
According to the minister, the overall commitment of the hotels is appreciable and the precautionary steps must be applied in all hotels including those that are not visited by the ministry.
However, few hotels yet not closed their bars and are negligent in terms of seating arrangement and reducing number of guests in order to ensure social distancing in hotels, it was learnt.
The minister called on the hotels to ensure social distancing and most importantly to close their bars temporarily as per the decision of the ministerial committee. The hotels have also accepted the recommendation from the ministry with open arms.
The ministry will conduct continuous follow up around hotels, bars and restaurants for the implementation of bars closure and social distancing in the service industry, according to Dr. Hirut.
The hotels should arrange their seats bearing in mind that social distancing is among the major prevention schemes of the pandemic that cause a devastative social, economic impact across the world, the minister underlined.
The Ethiopian Herald April 7/2020
BY YOHANES JEMANEH
