Residents line up for free nucleic acid testing at the special Information Port in Nanshan District of Shenzhen, South China’s Guangdong Province. Shenzhen reports 66 local infections on March 13, taking up the total number to 432. Photo:IC

The catering industry in Shenzhen, South China’s Guangdong Province, called on Thursday for more support from the local government amid mounting operating pressure from the latest wave of the COVID-19 epidemic. 

A Shenzhen-based culinary association said in an open letter on Thursday that the local catering industry has been hit hard by the sporadic outbreaks since January 6, which have affected some peak periods such as Valentine’s day and the Spring Festival holidays. 

The letter said the negative impact might be as bad for local restaurants as it was in the beginning of 2020 when the epidemic had just broken out. 

The association stressed that multiple member restaurants have been impacted by the mounting pressure in operational costs recently, especially with shrinking orders for delivery and the tightened capacity for delivery personnel. 

For instance, the letter pointed out that 90 percent of member restaurants said the income generated during the first three months of 2022 dropped more than half, and 80 percent of members are facing cash flow difficulties. 

The letter called on the authorities as well as relevant financial institutions to implement more supportive measures and policies. 

The association also had some suggestions for easing the burden on the catering industry, such as lower interest rates for restaurants, and for online food delivery platforms such as Meituan and Eleme to significantly reduce or even waive the commissions for delivery. 

Local financial authorities in Shenzhen issued a notice on Wednesday detailing various measures to strengthen financial support amid the ongoing epidemic. 

The notice called for more communication with enterprises and the use of tools such as increasing credit for small enterprises. 

Government controlled financing institutions will further increase their support for small and micro enterprises and reduce the financing guarantee rates by up to 40 percent for those that are seriously affected.

Shenzhen has been tightening epidemic prevention measures since March 13 in order to curb the spread of the virus. The city reported 91 new confirmed cases on Wednesday.