RIGA, May 7 (LETA) - About 70 percent of caterers plan to open outdoor terraces on Friday, Santa Graikste executive director of the Latvian Hotel and Restaurant Association, said in an interview with Latvian Radio on Friday, referring to the data of a survey conducted the day before.

"The number of reservations is high. The demand is high, both because people are very much waiting for the terraces to open and because not all the terraces will open," said Graikste, adding that finding free tables is relatively difficult at the moment, but definitely some are still available.

She pointed out that not all entrepreneurs will open outdoor terraces, because some will have determined it is profitable to do so. "First of all, entrepreneurs have to consider whether it is profitable - whether it is profitable to take staff, whether it is profitable to buy products, whether it is profitable to operate terraces. The second factor is that the weather in Latvia is quite a determining factor," said Graikste, adding that more outdoor terraces could start operating as the weather improves.

She also hoped that the customers of the catering companies would be understanding and would comply with the established epidemiological safety measures, so that the outdoor terraces could continue working in the long-run, and there is no reason to talk that outdoor terraces have led to an increase in infections. "It is very important that customers are also understanding and take all measures into account," said Graikste.

As reported, from today, restaurants, cafes and other catering establishments will be permitted to serve customers at outdoor terraces from 6 am to 9 pm, according to the amendments to the regulations Epidemiological Safety Measures to Limit the Spread of Covid-19, adopted by the government on Thursday.

At the same time, the proposal of the Ministry of Health to prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages on terraces was not supported.

The amendments to the regulations developed by the Ministry of Economics (MoE) stipulate that restaurant terraces will be open from 6 am to 9 pm. At other times, food may only be served for take-away.

The MoE explained that, given the current prevalence of Covid-19 in the country, the working time was set to 21:00 with the aim of limiting excessive socialization and alcohol overconsumption, thus creating risks of possible non-compliance with epidemiological rules.

The rules also stipulate that no more than ten people from a total of two households will be able to be at the same table, with a maximum of four adults.

Restaurant terraces will have to be spaced at least two meters apart if there is no partition wall between the tables.

At the place of catering, staff and visitors will be required to wear mouth and nose coverings during their stay, except when sitting at a table.

The MoE explained that catering will be allowed outside and on terraces providing up to 50 percent of closed wall space. Outdoor service will not be allowed in closed pavilions and tents.

In addition, it is stipulated that the catering service providers will appoint a responsible person who will organize and supervise the implementation of epidemiological safety measures in the place of the catering service. This person will have to be at the place where the catering service is provided during its operation.

Clearly legible publicly available information, including in a foreign language, on the maximum number of persons that may be present at the service location at the time, the person responsible for epidemiological safety, and the contact details of the municipal police will have to be displayed on the terraces.

The MoE also stressed that catering services will not be provided indoors.