When the time came for Cloe de la Vega to reopen the doors of her 50sqm cafe, Abuelo, in the heart of Covent Garden, her staff were more disbelieving than excited after so many false starts out of lockdown.The scepticism is warranted. Londoners have had a hard year. Every time the country has attempted to reopen, their hopes have been dashed as they’ve been ordered indoors once more.
“If you’d spoken to us a few months ago we might have been more negative but now we’re starting to feel that energy.” Across town on Liverpool Street in the Square Mile, Huw Wardrope says sales at his Urban Baristas coffee shop have increased from around 10 per cent of pre-pandemic levels to around 30 per cent.
latikambourke If they had been really smart and followed Covid Safe protocols to the letter they wouldn't be in the lamentable state that they are in now.
latikambourke After a 4 month lockdown the UK was only down to 2500 new Covid cases a day compared to 0 cases in Victoria after 3 months with about 1/10 the population. In other words lots of Brits weren't following lockdown laws. So expect a 4th wave but with fewer deaths.