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May 12, 2020 1:52 AM -

Mayor Lisa Helps says Victoria ready to give restaurants more room for physical distancing

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A Pallet Coffee Roasters location is pictured in Vancouver, Monday, May 4, 2020. After about a month and a half hiatus from serving coffee, Vancouver's Pallet Coffee Roasters plans to reopen partially five of its cafes later this week in an effort to bring in more revenue as it works toward paying another month of rent on limited sales. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps says council is prepared to quickly approve a plan to give restaurants more room for physical distancing by enlarging their outdoor space.

Helps says the COVID-19 recovery plan would allow restaurants and pubs to expand open-air dining to sidewalks, parking lots and streets closed to traffic.

She says staff will be urged to find ways to have the plan in place as the industry prepares to welcome back customers later this month.

Vancouver city council is also preparing to debate the issue of making more room for restaurants.


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