Establishments are closing their businesses and laying off employees in Rio de Janeiro. There are already 109 cases of coronavirus infection in the state.
Last Friday (20), in the state of Rio in Ipanema, an award-winning ice cream shop, Vero, closed its doors. The store suffered the economic effects of the coronavirus.
Italian Andrea Panzacchi, the owner of the store, closed its doors and had to lay off his 15 employees. The establishment was preparing for its ten-year anniversary in the city in December. There are already 109 confirmed cases of infection by the virus in Rio.
“I think there was that illusion that it wouldn’t get this far. But I have relatives in Italy and I was seeing a much more serious situation. I started to worry well before last week and to feel that it would be serious and that for the health of the people, those who work with me and others, I would have to close,” Andrea said emotionally.
Andrea made a deal with his employees, some of whom had been at the store since its inception. And he intends to reopen the ice cream shop in the future when the pandemic is over. He thinks that perhaps the store could move to a cheaper location. He currently pays R$1,400,000 for rent in Visconde de Pirajá. “Maybe this is the time to reinvent ourselves,” he said.
Staff fired at restaurant
In downtown Rio, employee Carolina Silva, from the Bocca Bocca kilo restaurant, has noticed a significant drop in business since last week.
“We served many Petrobras employees, but since they were all working from home, it was empty. The movement dropped a lot. On Monday (16), I arrived at 7 am to work until 4 pm. When it was 3:40 pm, the boss called us to a meeting and said that I and two other people would be fired. The next day, 12 more people arrived. All employees,” she said.
A resident of Morro do Mandela, Carolina, 27, is also a bar girl and is used to working at events. “They have all been cancelled. All my friends who organise events are also very worried. This situation is very difficult,” lamented Carolina.