LEO WANTS TESTS FOR YOUNG STAFF
LEO Varadkar wants pubs and restaurants to carry out antigen tests on their young unvaccinated staff up to twice a week.
Concerns have been raised over the risk being posed to those who have to work in hospitality without the protection of a jab because they’re too young.
It is also feared they could be carriers and spreaders of the infection.
Now the Tanaiste and Enterprise Minister has called on business owners to provide antigen testing for staff.
Mr Varadkar said:
“It is one thing I think restaurateurs and publicans could do on a regular basis to staff, maybe twice a week, or once a week, which we know can be very effective.
“It’s quite different to a one-off test which perhaps is less effective.”
However, restaurant owners have responded by telling the Irish Mirror that if the Government wants businesses to test their staff regularly, they should foot the bill.
Restaurants Association of Ireland chief Adrian Cummins added: “If the Government is looking for restaurants to antigen test staff, the State must pay for it.”
Mr Varadkar said: “There’s a lot of evidence and a lot of research done in relation to children and in relation to teenagers and the extent to which they can contract the virus and the extent to which they can pass it on.
“And thankfully they very rarely become sick or hospitalised as a result. But they certainly can get it and pass it on.
“In terms of the safety of staff and workers, if they become vaccinated, and of course everybody over the age of 18 now has the opportunity to become vaccinated.
“If they are unvaccinated I think it’s certainly much safer working in the indoor environment than it was this time last year, precisely because the vast majority of patrons in the pub or restaurant will now be vaccinated.
“And of course all the protocols will apply, including masking for example, so I don’t have a major concern in terms of safety.”
It’s safer working indoors than it was last year
LEO VARADKAR YESTERDAY