COVID-19 Infects Orlando’s Dining and Entertainment Scene
In the past month, coronavirus cases in Central Florida rose to higher numbers than expected after phase two of opening up the state began. Local bars that originally closed their doors due to the pandemic on March 14 experienced deja vu when asked to stop selling alcohol. This prompted forced re-closures after the first few days of being open to the public. However, restaurants that serve alcohol across Central Florida remained open.
“It’s frustrating [to see restaurants open and serving alcohol when bars can’t.] We even set up table sections to operate as a restaurant type look, but to see [restaurants and their employees] being allowed to make an income and we have to try to collect unemployment makes [me] so mad,” bartender for Amor Events, Neema Bahrami, said.
As part of the reopening, bars and restaurants had to obey the new safety guidelines put in place on May 18, allowing them to operate at 50 percent capacity indoors. For bars that actively followed social distancing and CDC guidelines, their employees felt the direct impact of their industry being treated differently.
“We took [customer’s] temperatures at the door and we all wore gloves and masks. We sanitized hands every 20 minutes in the club for staff and guests’ [protection] and we had someone wiping all areas down at all times,” Bahrami said. “We did everything we were told to do.”
Still, keeping safety at the utmost importance, bars closed while other stores, restaurants and public places welcomed the return of customers.
“There is nothing in place for bars to survive or [bar employees to] be paid while out of work,” Bahrami said. “Also, why just close bars? How about close the beaches that hold 3000 people in one area when [some bars] hold only 50 people.”
Bartenders and other employees continued to feel confused as to why their bars had to close again when restaurants recovered from the lockdown. Only returning for one day of work at his bar, Bahrami and his staff remained aware of the coronavirus’s safety hazard by actively ensuring they could return to work.
“Well, for our staff, they were tested before work and all cleared. No one was positive. After the one day of work, we tested again and waited for the results,” Bahrami said.
Moving forward into the pandemic, Bahrami’s workplace will continue to combat the realities of the coronavirus infecting Central Florida’s dining and entertainment scene.
“We will follow all the CDC guidelines that are required to open, as we did when [the bar] operated before the shutdown,” Bahrami said.
