Exempted catering staff to take regular tests instead of vaccines

Catering staff unfit for getting vaccines may be required to undergo regular virus tests as an adjustment of government’s “vaccine bubble” plan, an industry leader expected.

The government earlier launched the “vaccine bubble” scheme, and one of the requirements for restaurants and bars to relax social distancing measures is that all staffers have got their jabs. 

Simon Wong Ka-wo, chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants & Related Trades, said that representatives of the industry will meet officers from the Food and Health Bureau and discuss the details of “vaccine bubble” tomorrow.

Wong expected the government will exempt staffers unfit for getting shots from the vaccination requirement, and will ask them to undergo virus tests regularly as a replacement. Details including the frequency of taking virus tests will have to be announced after the meeting. 

The government also required over 10,000 restaurants to upgrade their air circulation systems by the end of this month. 

Wong said that the industry will need at least 60,000 air purifiers in order to fully comply with the government's requirement, while the city only has about 30,000 purifiers in supply. This issue will be discussed in their meeting with the government officials, he added. 

Wong also pointed out that only 20 to 30 percent of restaurants in the city have bought air purifiers, while the others are still observing the ongoing situation.