Today, both Koninklijke Horeca Nederland and the Cultural and Creative Sector Taskforce announced that testing to enter somewhere is controversial as far as they are concerned. The Taskforce wants to enforce testing for entry only in extreme cases, and not for cultural attractions that are already demonstrably safe. The hospitality industry even finds testing completely unmentionable, even if this could increase the limit on the number of visitors. 'It seems like the cabinet wants to justify the huge expenditure in this way, instead of focusing on reopening the society,' explained Robèr Willemsen, chairman of KHN.
The Cultural Task Force is slightly more nuanced, it appears. In a press release also issued today, it states: 'Access with test tickets is a useful tool for concerts, performances and festivals to safely open earlier or loosen safety measures such as the 1.5-metre rule. Not only does this benefit audiences, it also allows artists and self-employed workers in the cultural and creative sector to get back to work. However, the costs involved in the testing infrastructure should be proportional to its benefits.'
Debate
And there, of course, is the rub. How many vaccinations can you arrange on an accelerated basis for the millions now being spent on field labs and testing (where not even the artists are paid), and how much earlier can you reopen museums, restaurants and theatres somewhat normally for that?
On Thursday, 6 May 2021 House of Representatives debates On the use of testimonials. Culture Press reports.
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