Italy's restaurants cry for help as COVID bites into New Year bookings

FILE PHOTO: Men dressed in Santa suits sit in outdoor tables in Trastevere one day before Italy goes back to a complete lockdown as part of efforts put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Rome, Italy, December 23, 2020. REUTERS/Remo Casilli/File Photo

ROME (Reuters) - Italian restaurant and club owners are seeking urgent government support due to increased cancellations prompted by a surge in coronavirus infections, they said in a statement on Wednesday.

Business group Fipe-Confcommercio said the growing number of cases and the quarantine rules imposed on close contacts of COVID-19 sufferers had prompted 25%-30% cancellations in New Year's Eve dinner bookings.