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Retailers have rallied behind pubs and clubs in their rejection of Covid status certificates, according to The Guardian.
The news follows on from the announcement made by the prime minister last Sunday to confirm the reopening of shops in England from 12 April 2021.
In his announcement, Boris Johnson suggested that after the first two stages of reopening, there will be a further discussion about potential Covid status certificates for customers.
However, the news faced backlash with The British Retail Consortium (BRC), which represents thousands of retailers joining other hospitality companies to challenge the PM’s decision.
Helen Dickinson, the chief executive of the BRC, said: “While Covid status certification may play an important role in certain activities, such as international travel, our members are clear that it would not be appropriate or useful in a retail setting.
“High streets and other shopping destinations rely on impulse and ad hoc purchases from customers who visit; this would be badly affected by the additional barriers to trade.”
New West End Company, which represents over 600 businesses, has also rejected the idea of status certificates.
Jace Tyrrell, chief executive, said: “The Government should be considering all options that could get city centres thriving again, however while such an initiative may be the correct option for large capacity venues, we would not recommend using it for retail stores.
“It is a case of balancing the safety priorities of our customers and colleagues with the need to get London’s economy moving again.”
