Lithuania’s capital to turn into a vast open-air café amid the global pandemic

As per reports, Lithuania’s capital city will soon be transformed into a big open-air café amid the COVIID-19 pandemic.
Reportedly, Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital, will turn the city into a big open-air café in a move to offer much of its public spaces to bars and restaurant owners that are hit hard by the pandemic. Such a step will enable the owners to set their tables outdoors, along with maintaining physical distancing norms. This initiative has been very much welcomed by the Vilnius Government, which allowed several shops and restaurants to resume business as part of staged exit from the COVID-19 lockdown.

Referring to this, the Health Ministry, however, mentioned that the shops need to limit the number of customers at a time, and that wearing masks will remain mandatory in all public spaces. Also, the shops will need to follow the new rules, i.e., placing the tables at least 2 m apart from each other. Also, shops choosing to resume business during this time can serve only outdoor diners, as per the Health Ministry.
This effort of turning the city into a vast open-air café has also been made to keep such businesses alive. As part of the new measures, on the city's plazas and streets, nearby cafes will be allowed to put outdoor tables free of charge this season, and also conduct their business during quarantine.
While, as of now, 18 such spaces have been allowed to conduct business like this, there is the possibility of more coming up down the line. As per the media reports, the iconic Cathedral Square will house food and beverage establishments temporarily, much to the joy of the locals.

With this new measure in place, it is expected that more number of visitors will turn the city streets lively without violating any security rules at the same time.