Concerns from York's hospitality industry about suggested use of rapid flow tests
The Prime Minister announced that the tests "will probably be the route forward".
It’s been suggested by the government that rapid flow tests could be used to open parts of the economy, but it’s raised concerns in York.
The Prime Minister announced that along with the vaccine rapid flow tests “will probably be the route forward”, especially for nightclubs and theatres.
But, The Campaign for Pubs in York is worried it could be used within the hospitality industry too.
Chairman, Paul Crossman, doesn’t think it's a good idea:
"Everyone's very worried about it, we don't see how it could possibly work.
"We don't understand whether we'll be expected to administer these things - put people into a half hour holding pen?
"We just don't understand how it could possibly work."
Paul also added that it's not fair for staff to carry out any testing:
"We would need yet more staff to be able to do the Covid tests.
"There's just no way that many pubs at all, if any, would be able to afford to do that.
"So, we will need the government to give much more information and help."
60% might not be able to reopen
This also comes as it's been estimated that 60% of pubs in the UK won't be able to reopen even if looser coronavirus restrictions allow outdoor service from April.
The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has said that even if the government does lift some of the rules around hospitality many pubs do not have a big enough garden or outdoor space to be able to open.
It believes this could affect 29,000 pubs.