The current status of Covid-19
As the second wave of the pandemic continues across Europe, many countries have continued to tighten restrictions. While France, the UK and Austria have gone into a second national lockdown, Germany and Italy have entered partial lockdowns. A new curfew in Lisbon has forbidden people from leaving their homes past 23:00 on weekdays and 13:00 on weekends, making residents spend more time at home in the hope that it will decrease the spread of coronavirus.
Is a vaccine within reach?
However, the recent news of the vaccines in development suggests this pandemic could be over sooner than previously expected.
Last week it was announced that the vaccine developed by Pfizer was showing promising results, with up to 90% effectiveness achieved in their phase 3 vaccine trials and this week the US company Moderna revealed the results of their vaccine trials proved to be 95% effective.
The accomplishment of an effective vaccine is therefore becoming ever more likely. As a result, some scientists predict that current restrictions could be increasingly lifted from spring 2021 with the hope that our previous idea of a ‘normal’ life restored by winter 2021.
What do these changes mean for the restaurant and hospitality industries?
Once the pandemic no longer affects our lives as its current rate, it is very likely that some of the current changes in the restaurant and hospitality industries will continue to stick around.
In restaurants, cashless payments will become increasingly commonplace with the current relevance of contactless payments likely to only continue. Alongside the option for customers to scan a QR code at their table to view the menu and order direct table service straight from their phone.
Coronavirus has significantly accelerated the number of mobile food orders taking place with people enforced to stay indoors and order in. Yet one of the current standards within the food delivery industry, that should not stay in place, is the high commission fee rates charged by third party food delivery platforms. Commission fees of up to 30% leaves restaurants losing out on profits, which could be the difference between their business surviving or not during the current pandemic.
How to help?
To help fight the high commission fees of the food delivery aggregators and continue supporting your local hospitality community, during these difficult and uncertain times, you can order directly from your local restaurants with eStart4.
From this week, you can order directly from the restaurants El Bulo Social Club, Senhor Abel and Chakburger of the chef Chakall at eStart4. In addition to the restaurants A Coxinharia and Bliss out also joining the eStart4 platform.
With eStart4, you can be a part of the more positive changes within the restaurant industry through your takeout choices. Happy ordering!
