Casablanca Cafes and Restaurants Prepare to Reopen with New Health Measures

The sector will regain momentum after more than two months of inactivity. Cafe and restaurant owners in Casablanca are rearranging their premises to comply with health rules in order to preserve the health of their staff and customers.

"We are in the midst of preparations to resume our activity. We have equipped ourselves with posters and stickers to strictly comply with all the preventive measures provided for by the health authorities, particularly those of distancing and daily disinfection," confides Khalid A., manager of a cafe in downtown Casablanca, to the MAP.

He is pleased that the activity is resuming. However, this manager mentions problems that professionals in the sector will have to face. "The implementation of the various preventive measures, including the distribution of hydroalcoholic gel, temperature taking, and indicative stickers on the floor, will generate additional costs that will be added to the 50% reduction in reception capacity," notes Khalid. Hicham H., another cafe manager, is rather optimistic. "Today, things will improve a little more with the easing of confinement," he is convinced.

In the eyes of Mohamed Abdelfadel, coordinator of the Joint Commission of Food Trades (CMMB), the resumption of activity comes in a difficult context for cafe and restaurant owners. "We have borne the burden of four months’ rent in full shutdown, in addition to other fixed charges," he says. He hopes that the government will respond positively to their proposals, particularly through the amended finance law.