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WHEN restaurant owner Chirayu Na Ranong heard the Thai government re-announcing coronavirus restrictions in Bangkok, April, she burst into tears.
The latest restrictions cut off Chu Chocolate Bar & Cafe’s last power to survive. The cafe, popular with locals and tourists alike for a decade, closed its doors for the last time this week.
“I knew it was over because we were barely holding on, and with the restrictions once again, we didn’t have enough money to pay. I followed the government’s orders, I did what I was told, and I couldn’t survive. I couldn’t get any income,” Chirayu told Reuters.
The cafe chairs were stacked neatly by the large glass window showing an empty city street, some plastic trash lined in front of what used to be a display of mouth-watering desserts.
Thailand’s food and beverage industry has been squeezed by restrictions that have prevented consumers from eating in restaurants, pubs and bars were closed, sales fell drastically as people worked from home and tourist numbers plunged.
The Thai Restaurant Association estimates the industry lost 1.4 billion baht a day during the restrictions, and about 500,000 workers became unemployed.
Some 50,000 restaurants have closed over the past two months, temporarily or permanently, said the association, which estimates at least 10,000 businesses have gone bankrupt by the end of the pandemic.
“The government asked us to stop operating, but there was no help. Things have never been this bad. It was very difficult for us to defend,” association president Taniwan Koonmongkon told Reuters.
In late May, the government eased restrictions but capacity was capped at only 25% and restaurants were only open until 9 p.m. Industry groups say many businesses that do not have enough money to pay employees are also paying rent because there is no financial support from the government.
Most of the coronavirus cases have occurred in Bangkok. Thailand reports an average of nearly 4000 new infections per day. There have been around 165,000 cases and 1.00 deaths since the start of the pandemic. [antaranews]
