Terrace bars are allowed to reopen this Wednesday. All other bars and restaurants will follow suit on Friday, provided they respect the required safety measures.
Prime Minister Xavier Bettel announced last Monday that bars, cafés, and restaurants will be able to resume their activities this week. Representatives of the hospitality industry, general director of the Chamber of Commerce Carlo Thelen, and Minister of the Middle Classes Lex Delles held a press briefing earlier this Wednesday to shed light on a number of questions in the context of the much-anticipated reopening.
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According to Lex Delles, around 60 bars and restaurants have already obtained the "Safe to Serve" label, which means that they have adequately implemented the government guidelines and received the official green light to welcome back customers.
As a reminder, customers do not have to wear face masks when seated at their table. Waiters are required to have their mouth and nose covered. Cooks and staff helping in the kitchens, however, do not have to wear face masks as long as the mandatory physical distance of 2m can be respected.
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The government extended short-time working schemes in the hospitality sector until the end of the year. Representatives of the industry also demanded that the government lower the VAT tax on alcohol from 17% to 3%. This support measure has already been implemented in Luxembourg's neighbouring countries.
