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Coronavirus China
China

Beijing bans restaurant dining for Labour Day break to cut Covid-19 spread

  • Caterers in the Chinese capital will be limited to offering takeaways and deliveries over the five-day break
  • Delivery platforms streamline supplier applications in anticipation of surge in demand

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Restaurants in Beijing have been banned from offering dine-in services during the Labour Day break. Photo: AP
Kandy Wong
Restaurants have been struck off the menu in Beijing for the Labour Day holiday, with the municipal government banning dine-in services to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

From Sunday, restaurants across the Chinese capital will only be able to offer takeaway services over the break.

Ding Jianhua, from Beijing’s commerce bureau, said on Saturday that residents were encouraged to cook at home but they would still have easy access to food deliveries.

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Ding suggested that restaurants, couriers and retailers could “share manpower” to ensure deliveries.

A manager of a popular burger restaurant in the east of Beijing said the situation was stressful and the reduction in services would cost his business about 20,000 (US$3,025) yuan per day, German news agency DPA reported.

02:31

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