Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PASSPORTS FOR SHOPS
Retailers hit out as Government considers proposals for non-essential stores
VACCINE passports may be needed for non-essential stores under plans No10 is considering.
But the move sparked fury in an industry battered by closures. The British Retail Consortium said: “This would not be appropriate in retail.”
Labour’s Jonathan Ashworth added: “I think it is discriminatory to say you cannot go into Next or H&M unless you produce your vaccination status.”
RETAIL chiefs have warned vaccine passports for shoppers in non-essential stores could hit trade in an industry already struggling due to coronavirus.
Downing Street admitted it was looking at whether Covid status certificates should be needed to buy items including clothing, books and electronic goods.
The move sparked fury among retailers and will dampen the growing optimism surrounding the grand reopening of England’s shops from April 12.
It comes amid warnings the roadmap to ease lockdown could be delayed by a third Covid wave.
British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “While Covid certification may play an important role in certain activities, such as international travel, our members are clear 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 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.”
Boris Johnson was accused of creating confusion with his lack of clarity on vaccine passports.
Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “I think it is discriminatory to say to somebody you cannot go into Next or H&M unless you produce your vaccination status.
“I don’t think that is fair. Now if ministers are saying, that is not what the policy is, then they have to explain why does the policy document they produced permit that scenario? So, there’s a lot of confusion out there.”
Mr Johnson already faces a Tory rebellion over his vaccine passport idea, which could go to a Commons vote. Labour plans to
oppose them. Asked whether shops would need the certificates, the PM’S official spokesman said: “We will not require them as businesses reopen in stages two and three of the roadmap.
“Longer term there will be some essential services such as essential retail and public transport where they will not be required. We are looking at how Covid certificates could have an important role to play domestically as well as internationally. We will have more detail in due course.”
The Government has confirmed shops, pub beer gardens, gyms and hairdressers will be allowed to reopen from next Monday.
But SAGE experts warned changes planned for May and June – with greater indoor social mixing – may spark a rise in hospital admissions to levels seen during January’s peak.
Ministers have ruled out vaccine passports being used for entry to essential shops such as supermarkets or pharmacies, or on public transport. On a visit to Macclesfield,
Cheshire, Mr Johnson said officials would look at “a number of signals” – including jabs, negative test results and immunity – which could show that people were not infectious.
Government insiders believe Covid certificates could help get fans back to football matches, culture lovers back to the theatre and gigs, and punters back into pubs.
Former Liverpool star Kenny Dalglish said: “The most important thing is the safety of people.
“If it is possible to know that people coming in have a clean bill of health then that can only be a good thing.”