Mandatory Covid vaccinations ‘good for businesses’

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The introduction of mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations for workers at businesses that will require vaccine certificates for entry has been welcomed by the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce.

this includes hospitality, events, gyms, and close-proximity businesses like hairdressers

and barbers.

Once all have attained 90 percent the nation will move to a new traffic light system, which will allow businesses to open without restrictions when using vaccine passports for customers.

“Mandatory vaccinations for hospitality and businesses where customers and staff are in close proximity makes good business sense,” said chamber president Belinda Mackay.

“It means that business owners can ensure their staff are safe while conveying, to customers, that their business has their customers' wellbeing in mind. It also means that they can trade more ‘normally' and returns us on the path to regular trading.

“If our region gets to 90 percent vaccination, lockdown and business closures will be a thing of the past.

“The mandate also gives business owners clarity around the process of managing staff who choose not to be vaccinated and we welcome that.”

Latest Ministry of Health figures show Tairawhiti's double vaccination rate is the nation's poorest at just 61 percent.