As of 1 November, businesses in the hospitality sector have to introduce the CovidCheck system for all their guests.
It is one of the major changes that has come into affect today. Restaurants, cafés, night clubs, and hotels no longer have the option to chose between implementing the CovidCheck or not, it will become mandatory by law. The only exception will be terraces and other outside areas.
Self-administerd rapid tests are further being eliminated as an option. Guests must present a valid QR code, which they can only acquire by either being vaccinated, recovered, or tested by a certified institution (PCR or antigen tests). Naturally, the change will mostly affect the restaurants that have refrained from using the CovidCheck system altogether so far.
Head chef Fabrice Salvador from the "Christallerie" at Place d'Armes does not mind that self-administered rapid tests have been eliminated. In fact, his restaurant never offered the option to guests: "It is not very glamorous to do a nasal swab at a restaurant... In 95% of cases, guests already came with their documents prepared or had the app installed on their phones so that they could present their QR codes."
Others meet the new regulation with more concern. At "Pavillon Eden Rose" in Kayl, Caroline Esch and Valérian Prade always used the auto tests: "Many of our clients are unvaccinated and some have already informed us that they will not return for the time being."
The couple further addressed the renewed uncertainty for their restaurant: "We don't really know what to expect. Certified tests are no longer free and it would surprise me if guests are willing to pay that extra expense just to come to a restaurant. It may be true that we don't have a vaccine mandate, but indirectly, it certainly seems to be that way..."
