The restaurants associations within the CAEB Confederation of Balearic Business Associations and Pimem federation of small to medium-sized business associations agree on one thing. Since the requirement first came into force on December 4 and was extended on December 23 to all establishments regardless of interior capacity, there have been occasions when customers have refused to comply with the obligation.
The most extreme case occurred at the weekend at a Palma bar, where a group of 18 people threatened the proprietor after he had asked them for the certificate. The police were called and prevented any serious incident from occurring.
Helmut Clemens, vice-president of the Pimem association, says: "It is totally understandable that this happens when some policymakers are saying that we should treat the virus like a normal flu. It's logical that some people do not then understand why these measures are being taken and react badly. It is polarising society and that is very dangerous. I understand that people can be indignant, and we are the ones who are exposed to their discontent."
Clemens has been very critical of the measure from the outset and continues to argue that it should be withdrawn in order not to further harm the sector.
The CAEB association has shown its full support for a measure that it had itself requested. However, there is recognition that some problems have been caused. The president, Alfonso Robledo, says: "In general, there aren't problems, but we are sometimes surprised by clients, friends even. They get angry and demand the complaints form. There are people who are very obsessed with this issue."
The requirement is in force until January 24. If the figures continue to rise and there are outbreaks due to social gatherings for Sant Antoni and Sant Sebastià, despite the fiestas having for the most part been cancelled, a relaxation of the measure will be unlikely.
The government has meanwhile given no indication that it might extend the measure. Requiring the Covid passport for terraces is understood not to have been given serious consideration. Were it to be, the CAEB association wouldn't be against this. Despite some discontent that has so far been caused, Robledo is of the view that the passport has contributed to people feeling safer at a restaurant.
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Yes, I want to have a passport to prove that I have had a vaccine that is confirmed to be useless against omicron!! Suddenly it all makes sense to me. Even the head of Pfizer would not see the use in passports now!
So let's look at things as they are now: 1. Omicron is by far the dominant variant. 2. Both Fauci et al and the head of Pfizer have said that the vaccines and boosters have no effect as regards Omicron. 3. Omicron has the same symptoms as a cold and should be treated so. 4. The politicians still call for all to be vaccinated, please tell me why they want us to take the still experimental vaccine or in some countries mandate it. It is all beyond me, unless there is more going on behind the scenes.
Covid Passports for me..the BEST thing...this is to HELP NOT HINDER ...i CERTAINLY HAVE NO problems with it....as far as i am concerned i hop it CONTINUES...at least for the moment..and until we are a LOT better....with the situation as it is AT THE MOMENT...!!! To the President..i think Shes Doing OK....there is NO Goverment thats PERECT..But for me....Ours is DOING OK...
If you publish the names of the restaurants who choose to disregard our personal health and well-being then we will have a choice. All of the unvaccinated clowns who think they are so special can go to some places whilst the rest of us mix will people with whom we have a similar mentality....personal choice!!!
The measure has no merit. The spread is among vaccinated and unvaccinated equally. All this does is cause divide, make it harder on restaurants as it's another thing to 'enforce' and a clear demonstration of governmental power and overstep. Focus on the sick (elderly, obese, heart problems) to help them. This should be a non-issue that is dismantled quickly.