Cape Town: Caiden Khayo stands outside a bar on Cape Town’s Long Street, desperate to make the most of this Christmas after months of restrictions and concerns about COVID-19.
Many feared last year’s holiday shutdown after South Africa became one of the first to identify the new fast-spreading country. omicron Type.
but the president Cyril Ramaphosa This time the order of imposing any new restrictions has stopped. He has urged people to be careful and let the beer flow to the bar for now.
“It’s Christmas, we should know you,” says 30-year-old Khayo, as drinkers go from club to club around her.
“Last year we were at home. We were like off and all. But this time, here we are, we’re having fun. It’s a good thing.”
Hundreds of people are flocking to bars and clubs and having bohemian hangouts along the 3km-long road.
In Johannesburg, thousands more have turned out to enjoy the light displays that have filled the upmarket Melrose Arch shopping complex with gleaming reindeer, gleaming giant teddy bears and glowing Christmas trees.
The pre-existing midnight curfew is still in force. Bar owners are being cautious, watching for more restrictions, or a return to June’s alcohol ban.
But for now there are several vaccination programs and data suggesting that people infected with Omicron are much less likely to end up in the hospital than those with the Delta strain.
In Long Street, the lunch business in particular holds up well, says Prince Kabare, general manager of the bright yellow Beerhouse Bar.
“It’s 30 to 40% better than last year, so that’s a good sign,” he says. “We are now able to bring some employees back and move on.”
Outside, after dark, masked police keep traffic through the packed streets.
Tourist Jason Smuts says, “Everyone’s partying here. I mean look at this place.” “It’s nice to see everyone put on their masks, and I’ve got wax, hope everyone gets wax. It’ll be cool, you know.”
Many feared last year’s holiday shutdown after South Africa became one of the first to identify the new fast-spreading country. omicron Type.
but the president Cyril Ramaphosa This time the order of imposing any new restrictions has stopped. He has urged people to be careful and let the beer flow to the bar for now.
“It’s Christmas, we should know you,” says 30-year-old Khayo, as drinkers go from club to club around her.
“Last year we were at home. We were like off and all. But this time, here we are, we’re having fun. It’s a good thing.”
Hundreds of people are flocking to bars and clubs and having bohemian hangouts along the 3km-long road.
In Johannesburg, thousands more have turned out to enjoy the light displays that have filled the upmarket Melrose Arch shopping complex with gleaming reindeer, gleaming giant teddy bears and glowing Christmas trees.
The pre-existing midnight curfew is still in force. Bar owners are being cautious, watching for more restrictions, or a return to June’s alcohol ban.
But for now there are several vaccination programs and data suggesting that people infected with Omicron are much less likely to end up in the hospital than those with the Delta strain.
In Long Street, the lunch business in particular holds up well, says Prince Kabare, general manager of the bright yellow Beerhouse Bar.
“It’s 30 to 40% better than last year, so that’s a good sign,” he says. “We are now able to bring some employees back and move on.”
Outside, after dark, masked police keep traffic through the packed streets.
Tourist Jason Smuts says, “Everyone’s partying here. I mean look at this place.” “It’s nice to see everyone put on their masks, and I’ve got wax, hope everyone gets wax. It’ll be cool, you know.”
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