TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
LIKE Ian, of Mt Sheridan, (CP, 21/10), I’m surprised business owners whose livelihoods depend on tourism are procrastinating about getting the jab, vacillating about excluding the unvaccinated and apologetic for having their staff vaccinate.
How many times have you entered a shop on the condition that your bag be searched, denied entry for not wearing appropriate footwear or required to provide proof of age? Proving vaccination status will be no different.
Southern states have linked vaccination certificates to check-in apps. With nearly 90 per cent vaccinated, southern tourists will be expecting nothing less in FNQ.
I think tourism operators will be shunned if their businesses are not “Covid-safe”.
Employers are expected to provide a safe working environment. Being vaccinated, you may still get infected but experts say the unvaccinated will carry higher viral load with increased risk of transmission.
I’m sure you’ll want to keep your vaccinated staff and customers safe. Belief that our climate, your level of health and fitness, the sun and fresh air will keep you safe is flawed. You can still be infected and take it home to your elderly parents, relatives or a
disabled friend. Your unvaccinated children will in turn infect their teachers and peers, some of whom will probably be First Nations.
Some locals benefit little from the tourist trade but would not begrudge the tourist operators a living. Surely it isn’t too much to ask these business owners to do everything within their control to keep their customers and Cairns residents safe.
Terena Hopkins, Goldsborough Valley