Food enthusiasts gather at festival amid social distancing measures

The 2020 Macau Food Festival is giving locals a chance to celebrate togetherness even whilst observing socially distancing measures.
On the first Sunday since its opening, a deluge of local gourmets and foodies, with their masks on, congregated at the annual food event held at the Largo da Torre de Macau, opposite the Macau Tower.
In these times of Covid-19, the festival’s organizer called off the opening ceremony and implemented health protocols to minimize the contagion risk.
The safety and health measures include stipulations that the number of diners at one table should be limited to four at a time, and that the tables should be placed one meter apart from each other.
Despite the guidelines, tables with more than four people were a common scene observed at the event.
Sharon Leung, 14, a Form-3 pupil, who attended the festival yesterday, told the Times that she has been a loyal supporter of the Food Festival. She added that she came to the event this year to show support to the local food industry suffering due to Covid-19 containment measures.
However, she was concerned that the dining tables with more than four diners may increase transmission risk.
A vendor surnamed Keok, who has participated in the event for three consecutive years, said that this year’s receipts would be expected to drop by around 50% compared to last year, mainly attributed to lowered visitation due to Covid-19.
“However, the earnings by far are already better than expected, thanks to a high attendance of locals,” he said.
A total of 600 dining tables have been put in place in the venue, which can accommodate up to up to 2,400 attendees, Chan Chak Mo, President of the festival’s organizing committee, told the press on the opening day.
In terms of capacity control, specially appointed staff have been deployed to observe the situation, and enact specific measures to avoid overcrowding, he added.
The 17-day festival, in its 20th edition this year, is hosted by the United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macao. It will run from November 13 to 29. Staff reporter