Finally the UK’s starting to open up again. We’ve survived the last three months of lockdown, with many finding this one the hardest of them all. Of course, the lockdowns have helped protect the NHS, however not without a huge cost for the rest of the UK economy. Lots of people’s businesses have suffered as a result, with some even having to close their doors forever.
Now, as we venture into the government’s third stage of its lockdown easing plan, with outdoor pubs and restaurants and non-essential retailers allowed to reopen, we need to get back to normality whilst behaving responsibly, as Boris Johnson keeps preaching.
In my eyes, behaving responsibly would entail proving you’ve had the Covid jab so that you’re able to safely go to work, the gym, the pub and even go on holiday. Although controversial, do you think it’s responsible behavior if non-vaccinated people, who could be spreading this deadly virus, are allowed to resume their normal life?
My support for the introduction of vaccine passports is nothing new, but as the country starts to open up again, I support it now more than ever. It’s the only way the economy can recover whilst ensuring everyone remains safe ‘ the last thing anyone wants is another lockdown.
Calling last orders: Saving the hospitality sector
The hospitality sector has suffered a miserable year because of ludicrous restrictions such as the ‘substantial meal’ policy and the 10pm curfew. But what’s really harmed pubs and restaurants has been the social distancing measures they’ve had to follow. Many venues have had to say goodbye to their normal Friday night crowds and hello to social distancing restrictions which often results in them operating at limited capacity. Sadly, operating like this is just not profitable for some venues. And so it then comes down to a choice of either we lose our lovely pubs, bars, restaurants and venues and face paying through the nose for extortionately priced drinks and food to cover the losses, or accept the vaccine passports. In the second scenario, with vaccine passports mandatory, social distancing rules could be abolished and venues could then re-open to vaccinated people with no need to limit numbers. They’d then start to recoup the profits they’d lost over the past year.
On a wing and a prayer: Rescuing the travel industry
Introducing vaccine passports will also help rejuvenate the travel sector – another industry that’s been badly hit by the pandemic. While international travel is still up in the air, this uncertainty could be resolved by making it obligatory for all travelers to show proof of receiving the vaccine. Whether you like it or not, the industry will recover faster with them.
It might sound outrageous, and possibly discriminatory if only vaccinated people are allowed to travel abroad, but countries and companies have already started doing this. Virgin Voyages recently launched its staycation cruise holiday, allowing only adults who can prove they’ve received both doses of the jab, to book. Countries, such as Israel, have introduced “green cards that indicate whether someone has been vaccinated or not, and vaccinated citizens are being allowed to travel to Greece and Cyprus. The sooner vaccine passports become the norm, the sooner travel companies can resume business as usual. It’s the simplest way to safely and quickly get the world up and running again.
As the world starts to finally open up again and the sense of freedom finally starts to fill the air, we need to find ways to accelerate this process. It’s vaccine passports that will help the worst hit sectors get back to work as soon as possible and start to become profitable again. We are living in extraordinary times, so extraordinary measures should be expected and it’s time to prioritise the economy whilst also keeping people safe.
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