Comment - Restrictions are a pain but a partial lockdown is worse

“Coffee for David,” yelled the waitress.
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Until then this cafe had impressed with its safety precautions. It was taking orders at one door and delivering food and drinks out of another, where socially-distanced customers waited to be called forward.

The only problem was, the lady wasn’t wearing a mask. And doesn’t shouting produce droplets? All over the cup of coffee in her hand, no doubt.

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Then this week, in a rural pub, the rules had basically broken down.

The Star Business Editor David Walsh.The Star Business Editor David Walsh.
The Star Business Editor David Walsh.

A one-way system was being flouted, staff weren’t wearing masks, tables and chairs weren’t wiped down between customers, people were served at the bar and menus weren’t new for each customer.

With a low roof and closed windows, the ventilation was poor too. And it was busy, due to the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme knocking up to £20 off bills.

Call me the virus police, but isn’t this exactly how it’s spread? I’m not going back. But the issue is much bigger than that.

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Sheffield has been lucky in that so far we’ve only seen restrictions eased - more are being brought in on Saturday (August 15). It also had declining infection figures for a long time.

But on Thursday The Star reported they were creeping back up again.

It’s easy to forget that not too far away in Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire and West Yorkshire, millions of people aren’t allowed to visit each others’ houses or indoor venues, inside or outside the area.

They can still meet in pubs. But residents are being warned it could be a case of ‘closing pubs to reopen schools’ as a trade-off to limit contact.

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The thought of another, even partial, lockdown in Sheffield will fill many people with dread and could put already embattled pubs out of business.

We need publicans to follow the example set by the Lescar in Sharrowvale.

Customers are briefed on safety measures at the door by mask-wearing staff who place food at the far end of tables.

Impersonal and weird it may be, but it’s what we need right now.

I’m sick of the virus, we must do everything we can to stay safe. Let’s all be more Lescar.

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