A new pilot project will see businesses in Liverpool asked to offer incentives to persuade more people to get tested for COVID-19. Tony McDonough reports

Businesses in Liverpool are being asked to provide incentives to encourage more people in the city to get tested for COVID-19.

Marketing Liverpool, Liverpool BID Company and Liverpool ONE have come together to lead the pilot project. They are asking businesses in the city to offer incentives such as discounts for people ho can produce a negative COVID test result.

It has two aims: to continue to encourage people across the region to get regular tests as part of the smart testing pilot; and to allow people to safely enjoy shops, restaurants and other venues throughout December.

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Smart testing will pick up from the successful mass testing pilot that helped Liverpool city region to secure Tier 2 status following the national lockdown. One of the key objectives now is for the city to stay in that Tier, or even move down into Tier 1.

Supporting the message ‘Get tested before…’ the smart release initiative will encourage people to go for a test before they come into the city and the incentive programme would see businesses put forward an offer or discount such as ’10% off a coffee’ or ‘kids eat free’ if customers can show a negative COVID-19 Lateral Flow test and ID.

A negative test result would be valid for 24 hours and customers would need to show the results text or email in order to claim the discounts. Venues and customers would still need to follow the Hands, Face, Space guidelines such as social distancing measures, face masks and regular hand washing.

Chris Brown, director of Marketing Liverpool, said: “The mass testing pilot ran for almost a month and during that time we’ve seen people who live, work and study in Liverpool get regular tests in order for us to keep the virus at bay.

“Regular testing is crucial if we want to keep Liverpool in Tier 2 in the run up to Christmas and for businesses across the city to re-open with confidence. An incentive scheme such as this benefits everyone.

“It allows those with a negative Lateral Flow test result to safely enjoy our shops, restaurants and visitor attractions during December while bringing much-needed footfall back into our venues.”

Businesses who are interested in signing up to the scheme and offering a discount or offer can do so by clicking here.