Visionary Reports

While Feasting,the population remains cautious of the presence of the Corona virus

As the end of year draws nearer the population of Douala have been engaged in different activities to mark the end of year. These days it is not uncommon to find streets lighted up with colorful lights beaming from all directions with beautiful decorations of all sorts.   Companies, Industries, offices, super markets, shops, restaurants, and nightclubs, snack bars, off license and on license are all involved in the show.  With the presence of the Covid 19 global pandemic they are still determine to make brisk business and regained all that was lost during the period of the   lockdown.

They have all embarked on different strategies to attract more customers and make more gains during this festive period not neglecting barrier measures to avoid the spread Covid 19.  They are pretty aware to protect themselves as well as their customers. A stop over at the First –T snack bar at Deido, the communication officer Patrick Dika said they have put in place strict measures to stop the spread of Covid 19. “No client enters here without a mask, we also have a bucket of wash hand basin where everybody who comes in is obliged to wash the hands,” Mr Patrick Dika recounts.  He added that they have also reduced the number of persons that they accept on the dancing floor at a time.

“We have also reinforced security because we realised that some people don’t want to respect the measures in place” he added. Mr Patrick Dika said they have also derived other business strategies to make more gains during the festive period. He regretted that during the lockdown   income was at zero but with time business started moving timidly. He was hopeful that the end of year activities will bring a boom in their sales.

Meanwhile Josephine Dikonge an owner of a restaurant in Bonapriso, said she has already decorated her Christmas tree and the lights are on. “I have also painted the walls and decorated the restaurant. Most people like to eat when the environment is clean so we have double our efforts to keep the restaurant up standard so as to attract more customers. She said they have put in place all the necessary measures to keep Covid 19 at bay.

By GINA ESONG