The Association of Commerce and Services of the Algarve Region (ACRAL) requested a set of measures and initiatives "immediate by the Government", after the announcement this Tuesday, 21 December, of new restriction measures due to Covid-19 .
Regarding the mandatory test for access to some places - such as hotels or restaurants, in the latter case only on the 24th, 25th, 30th and 31st of December and 1st of January -, ACRAL says that, despite being "understandable", the measure “has a profound impact on the economy of entrepreneurs, with the real perspective of a decrease in demand from customers”.
Miguel Morgado Henriques, president of ACRAL, considers that «to minimize the inevitable effect of such measures, it is necessary that the Government and local authorities, immediately, adopt a set of initiatives that, fulfilling the intended purpose, do not call businessmen to another ordeal with no return».
The association defends as “absolutely essential the creation of test posts in the city centers, close to the places most frequented and sought after by people”.
"Only in this way will it be possible to prevent them from going to the desired places", he adds.
ACRAL also defends that it is "impressive that free tests supported by the State could be carried out in these testing centers and not just in participating locations and companies, which physically limit access, as well as operating periods are not compatible with various commercial activities" .
"No less important will be the definition of financial measures to support entrepreneurs who experience a sharp decrease in the results of their activities, without which part of the trade and services sector may succumb, given the accumulated loss of the last two years, to which it adds the recent ban on price reductions between the 25th of December and the 9th of January, which constitutes another period of effective reduction in sales», he concludes.
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