Covid-19 Update

NEWS SPECIAL

Usdaw encourages retailers to get booster

The government is aiming to administer one million booster jabs a day to stem the spread of Omicron and avoid imposing further restrictions.

Retail trade union Usdaw is encouraging its members to get their booster jab as soon as possible among rising concern about the Omicron variant.

Prime minister Boris Johnson has announced an unprecedented ramping up of vaccinations, rolling out one million booster jabs a day, to stem Omicron’s spread and avoid imposing further restrictions. Boosters are now available to all over-18s.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, told Parliament: “Scientists have never seen a Covid-19 variant that’s capable of spreading so rapidly so we have to look at what we can do to slow Omicron’s advance.”

He added: “Although we don’t yet have a complete picture of Omicron’s severity, even if severity was significantly lower then the much higher transmissibility of Omicron means it still has the potential to overwhelm the NHS.”

The army is being deployed across the country to help accelerate the vaccine programme and GPs are being asked to cancel appointments to dedicate resources to offering vaccines to every UK adult by the end of December.

In response, Usdaw General Secretary Paddy Lillis said: “The spread of the new Omicron variant is a worrying reminder that the pandemic isn’t over and that we can only defeat it by acting together. The best way to do that is to get vaccinated. If you can, make sure you get your first two doses and, when eligible, your booster.

“Usdaw members working in retail and distribution have kept food and vital supplies on the shelves throughout this difficult period. We all need to do what we can to protect them, other key workers and ourselves, our families and friends. We have come so far already, let’s get through this together.”

The union is also calling on retailers and the government to reintroduce social distancing and other safety measures in stores.

ISRAELI CHAIN TRIALS SMART TROLLEY

Israeli supermarket chain Machsanei Hashuk has begun working with WalkOut to develop a smart trolley.

The system, which can be retrofitted onto trolleys, features multiple high-precision cameras that use algorithms to accurately identify products as shoppers load or remove them with 99.2% accuracy.

Retailers can also use the touchscreen to offer recommendations, store navigation, supplementary product information, and relevant promotions based on the shopper’s history and location in the store.

WalkOut’s edge computing and machinevision algorithms also reduce the need for costly on-cloud servers and high-bandwidth internet support.

Shalom Naaman, Owner of Machsanei Hashuk, said: “The WalkOut solution will significantly shorten the length of stay in the branches, help maximize our operational efficiency, and allow us to offer one of the most advanced shopping experiences in the world.”