Dozens of restaurants and bars around Central’s entertainment district have temporarily shut their doors as the coronavirus epidemic batters the industry, while those staying open in famed pub hub Lan Kwai Fong have voluntarily halved their seating capacity.

Dr. Allan Zeman, chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group, said some businesses had already seen revenue to this point in March cut in half from a year ago, with the worst case seeing revenue decline by 70 per cent.

Eateries will also promote takeaway service, offering customers 20 per cent off dine-in prices.

Most sector representatives have also agreed to seat no more than four diners at a table, while the tables themselves will be separated either by a space of 1.5 metres or partitions.

Lan Kwai Fong restaurants were among those that would be halving capacities, Zeman said.

This article has been edited for length. Read the original on www.scmp.com.