Entrepreneurs in the field of services complain that they do not have information about what is going on in their sector with regard to the pandemic situation. Fitness centers, wellness centers, beauty and hairdressing salons complain about zero communication from the government.
“We have absolutely no information and it seems incredible to me that after such a long time when we have coexisted with the covid, we have no certainty at all whether and how the government will support us financially,” Vavrušková fears.
“I spoke to Minister Havlíček several times, and when I warned him that we would not have employees because everyone would get used to working illegally, he replied that we could still go home to clients,” Vavrušková said. The Minister of Industry and Trade and the Minister of Transport Karel Havlíček (YES) did not comment on this. Vavrušková considers working at home with clients to be more risky than in a salon.
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Zero communication from the government is confirmed by entrepreneurs and salon owners. The owner of the Hairtrend hairdressing salon, Lukáš Klucký, would not have survived the pandemic in business without his own savings. “I had to save money to do it. During the pandemic, I lost more than two million crowns, if I include the loss of earnings and family costs, “he says.
Fitness centers remain uncertain and without any information. The president of the Czech Chamber of Fitness, Jana Havrdová, is concerned about the situation and considers any anti-pandemic measures ordering the wearing of veils during exercise to be unacceptable.
“Should the catastrophic situation with the closure of services recur, we hope to find programs that have already worked,” says Havrdová, adding that they do not yet have any information that this would happen if necessary.
We tried to find out some information from the Ministry of Health, but we did not get an answer. Minister Havlíček told the daily E15 that in order to alleviate possible stricter measures, it is crucial to vaccinate as many people as possible. “It is essential that as many people as possible be vaccinated and gradually take advantage of the third dose. This is the best prevention of possible stricter epidemic measures, “adds Havlíček.
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The Czech wellness center Infinit lost sixty million crowns in the course of eleven months of closure, not counting the lost profit in the autumn and winter months, which are crucial.
“It turned out that covide does not spread in these facilities, and on the contrary, we perceive the importance of enabling people to strengthen their physical and mental health as part of prevention, which is what our services are for,” says Michaela Matějovská, manager of the Infinit wellness center.
Although the government does not report the closure of businesses and services, after the experience of the previous year, entrepreneurs lack certainty. “We have no information about what kind of helping hand the government would offer us if necessary. In the case of closure, it is necessary for us that the aid immediately covers all losses, “adds Matějovská.
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The financial compensation provided by the government to the people in the service sector is considered by some entrepreneurs to be insufficient. “During the pandemic, we received fifteen thousand crowns, from which social and health insurance must be deducted, so there are seven thousand left. Without savings, I would have to support a family of four with this salary, which is completely absurd, “Klucký complains.
Due to the worsening pandemic, it will be mandatory to wear respirators in all indoor areas, including workplaces, from 25 October. From November, restaurant staff will have to check guests’ proof of infectivity, and free covid tests will only be for people under the age of eighteen, fully vaccinated and people who have started vaccinations or those who cannot be vaccinated.
