Covid-19 curbs leave restaurant owners across the country high and dry

Most have stalled expansion plans due to uncertainty and are seeking relief to offset the shrunken business; fear they will have to take tough calls like letting go of people

Restaurants across the country are staring at a long winter ahead. New Covid-19-induced restrictions have thrown a spanner in the recovery that was underway after the second wave.

Most restaurants have also stalled expansion plans due to the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, and are seeking relief to offset the shrunken business. If the current set of restrictions on the number of hours and capacity continues, many restaurant owners fear they will have to take tough calls like letting go of people.

Restaurants in metros were already operating at half the capacity in line with the government guidelines. The additional guidelines — like