COVID is again spreading and affecting the hospitality industry throughout Europe at a rate even higher than in past waves: in recent days, France has passed 20.000 cases per day; Germany reached 39,000 yesterday (on Wednesday almost 61,000); the United Kingdom, 38,000; Poland, 25,000; the Netherlands, 23,500; Belgium, 18,000… And in parallel, almost all these states have begun to take measures (perhaps too late) in an attempt to control this sixth wave, as specific confinements for those who are not vaccinated (in Austria, where the chancellor admits that they have a “shamefully low” level of 65%), or the obligation to be vaccinated or present a PCR to go to work or get on public transport (in Germany). In Spain, and more specifically in this Autonomous Community, it is already openly proposed that you cannot enter a bar or restaurant without being vaccinated or proving by means of a test that you are free from coronavirus.
The sector views this possibility with concern, although it is also aware that it “the remedy [requiring the covid certificate] is better than the disease [that restaurants will be closed down again]”, as Veronica Juan, president of the association of bars, restaurants and cafes (Pimeef) believes: Anything that avoids a situation like the one we experienced a year ago is a lesser evil. We must not forget the ruin it meant for so many colleagues. Infections are on the rise all over Europe and vaccination is supposed to be our workhorse and it seems to be working”. Juan stresses that for the owner of a establishment “is not pleasant to have to act as an inspector, but there will be no other option if this is the way activity is guaranteed and we do not find ourselves in the same situation as last year, when the whole sector was closed”.
“I see it,” she says, “relatively inevitable, although there is opposition in the sector, mostly because it is a nuisance to have to start controlling customers. But it is more serious to be closed. It would be, in any case, a lesser evil”
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