The Vilnius capital of Lithuania continues its support of their lively cafe and restaurant culture throughout the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. The capital designated all public spaces such as their open air cafes and restaurants to continue operating and serve customers so long as they observe social distancing guidelines.
With just under 1,500 cases and 48 deaths from CoVid-19, this Baltic country is slowly lessening quarantine rules by allowing all restaurants that have outdoor seating, parlors and smaller stores reopen.
While social distancing is still being practiced fully, this doesn’t pose a problem for restaurant owners, baristas and goers in the old town of Senamiestis, because they have the freedom to position their tables as far apart as they please, making full use of the narrow streets and public plazas.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site’s town mayor, Remigijus Šimašius said that:
“Plazas, squares, streets… Nearby cafes will be allowed to set up outdoor tables free of charge this season and thus conduct their activities during quarantine.”
There are over 160 cafe, restaurant and bar owners that signed up for the program to open 18 public areas they can make use of for outdoor seating, with a promise to include more spaces to this list as summer comes long and the slow exit from the lockdown progresses, reported the Guardian.
Evalda Šiškauskienė from the Lithuanian Association of Hotels and Restaurants told The Guardian that, “it just came in time. Accommodate more visitors and bring life back to the city streets, but without violating security requirements.”
Another great thing happening in Vilnius was when the public healthcare workers were given food and drink vouchers by the city restaurants that amounted to a total of $432,000 all in all, to thank them for all their hard work and public service battling against the pandemic.
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