Retailers react against vaccine passports
April 8, 2021
Vaccine passports would be a "barrier to trade" say retail groups as the Government fails to rule out applying such a scheme to the high street.
Boris Johnson made clear earlier this week that no kind of Covid certification or passport would be required as retail opens up on April 12 but suggested that the UK was "moving towards a system of vaccine passports", leaving the door open to a later implementation for retail – especially if virus cases rise again in any third wave.
Travel, theatres, nightclubs and cinemas are the most likely targets but there are suggestions that a certification scheme could be applied as an opt-out to social distancing requirements for pubs, restaurants and shops.
The Times newspaper reported yesterday that shoppers may need passports saying a Downing Street spokesperson had hinted they were being considered and refused to rule it out when pressed whether this would apply to clothing stores.
“We are looking at how Covid status certificates could have an important role to play domestically as well as internationally. We will come forward with more detail on them and how they may work in due course,” the spokeperson told the Times.
Helen Dickenson of the British Retail Consortium says: "While Covid status certification may play an important role in certain activities, such as international travel, our members are clear that it would not be appropriate or useful in a retail setting.
“High streets and other shopping destinations rely on impulse and ad hoc purchases from customers who visit; this would be badly affected by the additional barriers to trade.
“Instead, we believe that continuing to follow the existing strict safety protocols, including regular cleaning, face coverings, and regular hand washing are the best course of action to protect staff and customers in stores,” she said.
“High streets and other shopping destinations rely on impulse and ad hoc purchases from customers who visit; this would be badly affected by the additional barriers to trade.
“Instead, we believe that continuing to follow the existing strict safety protocols, including regular cleaning, face coverings, and regular hand washing are the best course of action to protect staff and customers in stores,” she said.
The use of certificates – which would include vaccination status, test results or evidence of someone having contracted and recovered from Covid-19 – is opposed by at least 40 Conservative MPs and the Labour party and SNP remaining unconvinced that the Government has a workable plan for such a scheme.
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