“There is no life without a QR code”: is business ready for long-term restrictions

The authorities are preparing to introduce a bill on mandatory QR codes confirming immunity to covid-19, when visiting public places, shopping and traveling. RBC surveyed businesses about their readiness for long-term work with QR codes

Mikhail Kuchment, co-owner of Hoff , noted that QR codes have already been introduced in most cities where the network operates, which has led to a 50% drop in consumer traffic. “As the rate of vaccination increases, this situation should improve, but we do not notice this yet, for example, in Tatarstan, which was one of the first to introduce this measure, there are no improvements,” says Kuchment. The widespread introduction of QR code verification will continue to adversely affect the work of stores, the businessman is sure.

The authorities will introduce bills on QR codes in transport, cafes and shops Society

Vladimir Zubitsky, Chairman of the Association of Concert, Theater and Ticketing Organizations (KTIBO) , believes that for the concert industry the introduction of a QR code system is “very cool”: “We will have a clear understanding: the unvaccinated does not go anywhere, but the vaccinated goes everywhere. We are for covid free, like many in our industry. At least the situation with concerts will be solved somehow. Now it is possible, then it is impossible, then 500 people, then a thousand - there are no rules. Here everything will be completely clear. Many countries have already done this. In the usa , for example, even stadium COVID free concerts are held, and this is not discussed.

Business Ombudsman for the Protection of Small and Medium Enterprises Anastasia Tatulovacalled the current situation with QR codes "a senseless mockery of business." According to her, this did not give a result in any region - “there is no increase in vaccinated, there is no decrease in the incidence.” From the point of view of the business ombudsman, fitness, restaurants, cinemas and non-food stores are not an effective means of pressure: “With developed delivery, with open culinary shelves in stores, with McDonald's operating, all this is killing the Russian restaurant business in the regions that has managed to survive for these one and a half years ". The introduction of QR codes for individual industries in the form they are now "is guaranteed to kill business," Tatulova believes, pointing out that "there have never been any adequate support measures for the situation and losses." “People don’t go to restaurants alone, they go in groups. If one of the companies does not have a code, everyone does not go. They go home buy food and ALCOHOL or order delivery and stay at home. Either you need to enter everywhere - from transport, taxis, metro, buses, trains and planes and on domestic and international flights, or nowhere.

The Research Institute of Rospotrebnadzor explained the refusal to equate PCR with a QR code Society