In order to promote actions aimed at interrupting the epidemiological chain of the Covid-19 disease, Ministerial Agreement 87-2021 was published on April 17 in the Diario de Centroamerica, a regulatory framework that requires a 25% reduction in the capacity of shopping malls, commercial centers, convenience stores and restaurants.

After the announcement of the restrictions that will be reviewed next April 30, local businessmen are beginning to experience a drop in their sales.

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Andrea Stella, vice president of the Guild of Restaurants of the Chamber of Commerce of Guatemala (CGC), told Prensalibre.com that "... 'the reduction of diners during the weekend was notorious, derived from the disorientation with clients'."

Attendance at restaurants was reduced from 70% to 35% due to the capacity, while liquor sales dropped from 21% to 6%, due to the application of the Prohibition Law, estimates the vice-president of the sector's guild.

According to Stella, the initial projections for the restrictions of Friday, April 16 affect at least nine thousand jobs and sales for more than $13 million.

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Jean Francois Dubois, deputy director of Corporación Metro Proyectos, reported that "... clothing, footwear, appliances and accessories stores also reported a 30% drop. 'For restaurants the drop in sales in shopping malls was 50% more, and at least that percentage was lost'."

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Source: prensalibre.com

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