According to Koepp, this mostly comes down to the age and work profile of a business’s customer base.
The Horesca continues to plead for the return of rapid tests that can be carried out on site. While some non-vaccinated customers have switched to certified tests, “many” have stopped going to restaurants, stating that they do not want to “subject themselves” to the new rules, Koepp explained.
He pointed out that restaurants and bars tested 25,000 people per day in Luxembourg, arguing that by doing so they helped identify infected people who may otherwise have spread the virus further.
Koepp stated that the Horesca Federation is not aware of any instances where customers tried to use a vaccination certificate that does not belong to them, adding that this is the responsibility of the police.
Owners and workers of restaurants and bars, Koepp explained, can only scan the QR code presented to them, and if it turns green, they let the customer in. Since they do not have the authority to ask a person to identify themselves, there is nothing else they could do, Koepp argued. Nevertheless, Koepp called on all Horesca businesses to comply with all official regulations, adding that the state should increase police checks to ensure that everything is in order.
While he thinks it is “feasible” to only allow vaccinated and recovered individuals in, Koepp stressed that such a measure must then be adequately implemented alongside the state.
Regarding financial aid, the general secretary of the Horesca Federation explained that businesses currently receive no other aid besides partial unemployment, with Koepp expressing his anger about this situation. Many businesses are afraid of going bankrupt, and do not know whether they will still receive any aid or not, Koepp stated.
In the eyes of the Horesca general secretary, the government’s vaccination campaign is “disastrous”, at least regarding the way it is communicated.
Koepp also criticised that it is completely incomprehensible why people from non-EU countries who have been vaccinated with the same vaccines used in the EU are not allowed to enter a restaurant merely because the owner is unable to scan the code on their vaccination certificates. Koepp rejected the argument that this is a European issue, and instead stated that this is simply a matter that required the government to show common sense.
A good crisis manager always has at least two plans ready to go, ideally even three, Koepp concluded, adding that this is what must happen now.
Video in Luxembourgish:
