More restaurants are temporarily closing as the Omicron variant surges in New York City, and financial concerns exist even for workers whose restaurants have remained open. chrisecrowley reports
A New York City restaurant over the weekend. Photo: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images Last week, as the Omicron variant made its presence known in New York and a number of the city’s restaurants closed as a safety precaution, a bartender named Andy told me his bar would stay open for a holiday party even after members of the staff had tested positive for COVID. The day after that party, he followed up to let me know he too had now tested positive. “I feel crummy,” he wrote, “but I’ll be okay.
One server described the situation at her pizzeria, where she works part-time, as “hour by hour.” Her shifts over the weekend were canceled, and now she’s in an employment limbo that feels eerily reminiscent of 2020. “There’s a concern about whether this is temporary or longer,” she says. “Not permanent in that the restaurant would not exist anymore, but just that I would have to try and get back on unemployment, which is another beast.
Some places that have temporarily closed are paying their staff — though that’s the exception, not the rule, in an industry where there’s no guaranteed paid time off. Those restaurants include Ridgewood’s Porcelain, which canceled its dinner service over the weekend, and Oxalis in Prospect Heights, which, partner and director of operations Steve Wong says, is paying staff their regular hourly rates.
Right now, it’s expected that Omicron will peak in New York sometime in January. Workers and owners alike are expressing uncertainty about the next few weeks and how that will play out. Will there be more temporary shutdowns? Some wondered if they would be out of work.
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
Los Angeles Restaurants, Nightlife Gear Up for Omicron Surge: “I Don’t Want To Be Back Here”As Hollywood cancels red-carpet events, L.A.'s hospitality industry is wary of returning to the kinds of restrictions the city saw during past COVID waves.
Consulte Mais informação »
Fox Cancels ‘New Year’s Eve Toast & Roast 2022’ Times Square Telecast Due to Omicron SurgeFox has decided against moving forward with its “New Year’s Eve Toast & Roast 2022″ production in New York due to the ongoing surge of COVID-19 and its Omicron variant. The ne…
Consulte Mais informação »
CDC director says initial Covid shots 'may not be enough' as omicron rapidly sweeps the nationDr. Rochelle Walensky said omicron has 'over 50 mutations and because of those mutations, just being vaccinated with two doses may not be enough.'
Consulte Mais informação »
Biden Pledges 500 Million Free Rapid Tests As White House Outlines Plans To Battle Omicron SurgeThe president’s new plan will also include military support for hospitals and the deployment of several new federal testing sites and vaccinators.
Consulte Mais informação »
Wells Fargo delays plans for employee return to office amid Omicron surgeWells Fargo & Co said on Tuesday it has delayed its plans for employees to return to the office 'given the changing external environment,' according to a statement, the latest bank to adjust plans as the Omicron variant spreads.
Consulte Mais informação »