UP TO 15 per cent of Murcia’s bars and restaurants have gone bust due to the pandemic, according to the region’s main hospitality association.
Hostemur president, Jesus Jimenez, predicted that more closures were inevitable if a second wave of restrictions was introduced across the area
He estimated that as many as 1,300 businesses have permanently shut in a sector that normally employs around 35,000 people in Murcia.
Jesus Jiminez said: “Restrictions that have closed down nightlife venues do not seem to have had any impact on stopping rising COVID-19 cases.”
“There were no summer spikes in infection rates in coastal areas while there are now contagions happening in various work situations, as the hospitality trade continues to be unfairly singled-out,” he added.