Cape Town, Festive Season, Fourth Wave

Certain streets in Cape Town’s CBD are set to be closed for vehicles throughout the festive season for safer dining. Image via Getty Images

Cape Town to open streets for safer, open-air dining this festive season

With the fourth wave leaving many SA citizens fearing a gloomy festive season, Cape Town is one step ahead in making sure it is anything but.

Cape Town, Festive Season, Fourth Wave

Certain streets in Cape Town’s CBD are set to be closed for vehicles throughout the festive season for safer dining. Image via Getty Images

The City of Cape Town hopes to give people a fun festive season despite the fourth wave and will put restrictions in place to control the spread of the dreaded coronavirus.

The festive season revolves around good times. Eating, drinking, partying and just celebrations all around… and that can’t happen if South Africa enters another lockdown.

That’s why the City of Cape Town is making every effort to ensure its citizens and those visiting are safe.

THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN’S FESTIVE INITIATIVE

On Saturday, 11 December 2021, the City of Cape Town announced a new initiative. They are set to close off some of the “buzzing hub streets” to give restaurants and bars more space for safe eating, reports SowetanLIVE.

Street closures will be in effect in Bree Street between Hout and Wale from 14:00 to 23:00. Over 20 eateries have agreed to partake in this initiative, allowing for a schedule of safe festive fun to be created.

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“While we cannot help every restaurant, we hope this innovation will make a positive difference in the lives of many hospitality workers,” said the city.

OPENING STREETS FOR SAFER, OPEN-AIR DINING

The City of Cape Town is hoping to extend this initiative to other thriving streets such as Harrington and Long streets.

“Our events team has worked quickly to arrange it, and they’ve delivered a great line-up of safe, socially-distanced evenings of open-air dining in Cape Town’s streets.

“We know the impact COVID-19 has had on Cape Town businesses and the thousands of Capetonians they employ. Innovative thinking is needed to help get our economy through this wave, and we are committed to doing what we can.

“The city centre has always been a hub for entertainment, food and culture and we hope to rejuvenate this. We encourage residents to support the local restaurant trade while staying safe this summer.”

City of Cape Town

WESTERN CAPE PREMIER ALAN WINDE ON THE FOURTH WAVE HITTING CAPE TOWN

Western Cape premier Alan Winde confirmed that the province has officially entered the fourth coronavirus infection wave… and this is what gave rise to the safe dining initiative.

Winde feels positive that the province is doing all that it can to protect its people.

“While it is always scary to hear we are facing another wave, we must remain calm and turn our anxiety into action. We can do this by following four steps.”

“Vaccinate as soon as possible because vaccinations prevent severe illness. Ensure you wear your mask because the virus spreads in the air. Ensure good ventilation with lots of fresh air, and if you are meeting others, do it outside. 

“This is much easier in our summer months. Together with the golden rules of good hygiene, including staying home when you feel sick, we can slow the spread and save lives and jobs in the Western Cape.”

Alan Winde