WHAT THE WESTCOUNTRY THINKS

WESTCOUNTRY businessman

Steve Bellman, co-owner of the Inns of Cornwall & Devon pub and hotel group, said Sajid Javid’s announcement in Parliament yesterday “leaves a lot of uncertainty hanging in the air.”

The publican was responding to the possibility that a winter surge in Covid-19 cases could see people ordered to wear a face mask and – in certain settings – show a vaccine passport to prove they were protected.

Mr Bellman said that his ‘biggest fear’ would be a return to the tier system which he said was ‘damaging’ for many businesses in the hospitality sector last year.

He added: “What Sajid has said so far leaves a lot of uncertainty hanging in the air, which is not good for business planning and for investment.

“The prospect of restrictions kicking in again this winter if the NHS look like they will be overwhelmed isn’t anything any business relishes but we do understand the importance of safeguarding the NHS.

“The biggest challenge for most businesses this year has been recruiting new staff, and any uncertainty regarding restrictions and lockdowns will only make this worse and impact on our ability to trade. Our biggest fear would be a return to the tier system that was so damaging last year.”

However, several people on the streets of Plymouth yesterday wanted tougher restrictions to curb the spread of the virus to be maintained.

Lottie Brind, in the city’s Central Park, said she backed booster jabs for the over-50s but believed face mask wearing should still be legally enforced.

“They should be mandatory for everyone. Even if clubs are open and everything, it doesn’t seem fair that those people who are going out to nightclubs and stuff could be putting others, like elderly people, at risk, in the supermarket for example.

“People don’t think about the fact that wearing a mask is protecting other people rather than themselves.”

Peter Elliot said the idea of Covid passports to gain entry to certain venues also had merit. “I think on the face of it, it makes sense,” he said. “People have had time to get their jabs now.”

His wife, Sarah, said mask wearing no longer needed to be mandatory, although she and Peter still wore them in public places indoors. She said she is continuing to work from home.

Peter said: “With my firm, we can still work from home if we want to, but I choose to go into the office because it’s relatively close by.”

Covid rates remain high, but are falling across Devon and Cornwall.