FOR YOUR INFORMATION
We would like to share the following items which describe the impact that the coronavirus pandemic is having on the industry. Please contact the FIVS Secretariat with items that may be of interest.
France: Vaccine passports are Constitutional – France’s Constitutional Court has approved as constitutional the vaccine passport that limits access to bars, cafes, restaurants, and inter-city trains and planes to individuals who have been vaccinated or have tested negative for the virus. The Court said the restrictions adopted by the National Assembly and the Senate on 25 July 2021 represented a balance between public health concerns and personal freedom. A recent poll reportedly showed that 55% of those surveyed declared themselves ready to present the pass if requested, and 61% said that they favoured compulsory vaccination. The legislation will remain in place through 15 November 2021, depending on the COVID situation, and will initially apply to all adults before being extended to everyone aged 12 years and above on 30 September 2021.
Japan: COVID emergency measures now cover 70% population – Japan has now expanded its COVID emergency curbs to cover more than 70% of its population, as cases have strained hospitals in Tokyo and other parts of the country. The new steps – which are mostly voluntary – declare “quasi-emergencies” in eight more of Japan’s 47 prefectures. Six prefectures including Tokyo are already under full states of emergency through 31 August 2021 and another five are under less strict directives. Curbs focus on asking restaurants to close early and stop serving alcohol, while urging people to stay at home as much as possible. Just under 31% of residents of Japan are fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, venues in Tokyo reportedly have ignored COVID restrictions that suspended service of alcohol beverages and ordered restaurants to close by 8:00 p.m. Although businesses can be fined for not complying with the emergency measures, venues hurt by the pandemic seem willing to risk the fines.
Malaysia: Covid restrictions eased for fully vaccinated in Eight states – Effective as of 10 August 2021, Malaysia has reportedly eased coronavirus curbs for fully vaccinated people in eight states, allowing them to cross district borders, play outdoor sports, and eat in restaurants. The curbs have not been lifted in the capital Kuala Lumpur or in the commercial heartland of Selangor. One-quarter of the country’s 33 million people have been fully vaccinated to date. Malaysia is currently experiencing its worst COVID wave, averaging nearly 20,000 infections and hundreds of deaths each day.
Scotland: Nearly all COVID restrictions end on 09 August – Nicola Sturgeon announced the lifting of nearly all COVID restrictions on 09 August 2021, except for face mask rules, which are set to remain. Most legal restrictions – including those on social distancing and limits on the size of gatherings – are being lifted, allowing large-scale events to take place. Close contacts of individuals who test positive for COVID will no longer be required to self-isolate for ten days if they receive a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. However, pubs and restaurants will still be required to collect contact details of customers and home working will continue to be recommended.
Singapore: Relaxing COVID restrictions – Singapore’s government has reportedly begun relaxing COVID measures – easing caps on social gatherings and border restrictions – on 10 August 2021, because 67% of its population is now fully vaccinated. The government said it expects to relax measures further in early September when 80% of the population is expected to be fully vaccinated. The government reportedly intends to implement differentiated social rules based on people’s vaccination status: group sizes of social gatherings will be relaxed from two people to five, but the government has strongly encouraged those who are unvaccinated to keep to groups of two. Dine-in at food and beverage establishments will be allowed for groups of up to five people if all are fully vaccinated or have a negative COVID test within the last 24 hours.
United Kingdom: Momentum growing in government re nightclub vaccine passports – Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested last month that he might mandate that vaccine passports for use in nightclubs could be issued only to fully vaccinated individuals – not issuing passports to those with negative COVID tests or natural antibodies after having the virus. A Cabinet minister advisor has reportedly said that momentum is now growing within the UK government to allow pubs, nightclubs, and concert venues to stay open at full capacity during future COVID waves if they only allow guests who are fully vaccinated to enter their venue. The music industry is reportedly supportive of linking vaccine passports to social distancing rules, concerned more about the government reintroducing capacity limits than adopting vaccine passports.
United Kingdom: Local government association says public health issues should be considered when granting alcohol licences – The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for the Licencing Act to be updated to include public health issues when local councils decide whether to grant new operating licences to bars, restaurants, clubs, and takeaways. The LGA’s Chairman reportedly said the pandemic has shown the importance of businesses taking measures to protect public health, but local councils are specifically discouraged from considering public health issues. The LGA also wants councils to have greater access to National Health Service data, including hospital admissions and ambulance call-out details, to assist with decision-making. Currently, councils can consider only four issues when granting licences: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm.
Research
South Africa: Studying the impact of COVID alcohol bans and curfews on death rates – A new study published in the South African Medical Journal found that the complete restriction on the sale of alcohol beverages during the coronavirus pandemic resulted in a statistically significant reduction in unnatural deaths (including murders, vehicle collisions, suicides, and accidents), regardless of the length of curfew. Researchers collected data over 68 weeks from January 2020 to April 2021, together with information on the nature of any restrictions on the sale of alcohol and curfew hours. The study did not fully account for variables (such as widely fluctuating regulations, the illicit market, media coverage, and enforcement), nor did it offer comparisons to any control countries where alcohol bans were not implemented.
NOTE: We make no warranty of any kind regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information in these FIVS Alerts; nor do we necessarily support or agree with views expressed or contained therein.