Welcome, we are vaccinated!

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 8

‘We are vaccinated against the Covid-19’ signs greet visitors at a plush eatery at Urban Estate, Phase II, in the city. Amid the pandemic, fine-dining experience has taken a surreal shift as eateries are now ushering in customers by declaring that their employees have been inoculated. The stickers further exhort, ‘Take your Best Shot! Protect yourself and your loved ones. Get vaccinated against Covid-19’.

Restaurants, food outlets and eateries, are getting their employees vaccinated to ensure safer dining experience for their customers. Along with promoting safety, signs are also aimed at boosting business among a restaurateur business still reeling under the aftermath of the lockdown and second peak.”

Sandy Williams, manager, Barista (Urban Estate, Phase II) said, “Protection from pandemic is a major concern. Our entire staff has been vaccinated and we are following safety protocols. We aim to provide safe dining experience to our clients without worrying about the Covid-19.”

Notably, nearly 28 employees of various franchises were vaccinated in March.

Neeraj Kumar, operations manager, Euro Greens, said, “Around 28 employees working with us at Hayden Park (Birring village) and Urban Estate, Phase II, have received shots. Our workers at Barista, Subway, Chicago Pizza and Lahori Gate outlets have been inoculated. We got them vaccinated first after receiving directions from the administration. Our employees were inoculated in batches.”

He said, “The idea is to ensure customer feels safe at our outlets. We have also displayed ‘wear masks, save lives’ stickers at our units. Covid protocol is abided by everybody. We also want to set an example for everyone. The attempt is also to dispel rumours regarding the vaccine. From owners to employees all of us have been vaccinated. So it serves not just a protection, but also an inspiration among customers who may be sceptical.”

Employees at these eateries were vaccinated before mobile vans were started by the district administration.

8 deaths, 419 cases in district

Racing past previous records, the Covid cases on Thursday again witnessed a high. With 419 new cases reported in Jalandhar, the district’s tally reached 32,859, of 419 as many as 46 belong to other districts. Eight persons also died here today taking the death toll to 969. While 28,759 people have so far been discharged, there are 3,131 active cases in the district.

In Kapurthala, 177 tested positive and three deaths were reported. The deceased include a 76-year-old man, a resident of Fattu Dhinga block, who died at a private hospital in Jalandhar, a 75-year-old woman, resident of Kapurthala, who too died at a private hospital in Jalandhar and a 62-year-old man, resident of Sultanpur Lodhi.

12 die in Hoshiarpur district

The district reported 12 more deaths due to Covid-19, pushing the toll to 611 on Thursday. Besides, the district also witnessed 115 fresh cases; the tally is 14,828 now.

Giving information about cases in the district, Civil Surgeon Ranjit Singh said the number of active cases in the district stood at 1,225 and 14,146 patients had recovered. Out of today’s 115 cases, 15 were from Hoshiarpur and the remaining related to other health blocks of the district. Five patients of the district died at hospitals in Jalandhar, while a similar number of patients died at Hoshiarpur hospitals. One patient died at a hospital in Amritsar and one more died on the way to Amritsar from Dasuya Civil Hospital. 

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