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Corfu businesses angry at new measures for unvaccinated customers

COVID-19
03 Nov 2021 / 14:33

CORFU. Corfu Trade Association is demanding the immediate lifting of the new measures, which, once again, create unfair competition to the detriment of small businesses.

Corfu Trade Association is demanding the immediate lifting of the new measures for unvaccinated customers in the following statement:

We understand that the main priority for all of us is health. We respect the opinions of experts, but we cannot accept wrong practical decisions regarding the market that we know best and which involves thousands of our colleagues.

We have all agreed that retail shops and small-to-medium-sized businesses have never been transmission hubs for Covid-19 and undoubtedly provide a safe environment within the shops. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the retail industry has completely respected the health challenges and has strictly observed all the health protocols that have been imposed.

We once again consider the new horizontal measures announced yesterday by the Health Minister Thanos Plevris to be absurd and unfair as retail businesses observe the following measures to avoid crowding:

1. Distances of at least 1.5m between people
2. One person per 2 sq.m.
3. Use of a mask in all spaces

Despite this, according to the new measures, all unvaccinated customers will have to be checked by our employees, which is unfeasible in practice and, unfortunately, has caused anger and frustration amongst our colleagues as it will reduce takings and increase debts.

The retail industry cannot afford wrong decisions regarding measures at this difficult time when colleagues are trying to keep their businesses open and instead of receiving measures of support, are having detrimental measures imposed.

Corfu Trade Association demands and asks that the Government and the responsible Ministries immediately withdraw the new measures, which, once again, create unfair competition to the detriment of small businesses as similar measures were not announced for supermarkets and outdoor markets.

On behalf of Corfu Trade Association

Ioannis Alegris
President