Banknote maker De La Rue is in discussions with several governments about Covid immunity certificates as it hopes to play a part in getting the world’s travel industry back up and running.
It returned to profit in its half-year results, and is in ‘early discussions’ regarding ID that certifies someone is immune from Covid-19 and unable to infect others.
This could be a key piece in the puzzle of how to get economies functioning at full speed again once a vaccine is rolled out, allowing holidaymakers and office workers to travel around freely again.
Banknote maker De La Rue said it was in ‘early discussions’ with several governments regarding a form of ID which would certify that the holder was immune from Covid-19
De La Rue was unable to say what form this certificate could take, although it is thought it could be similar to a passport or ID card.
The Covid-19 certificate would be a welcome new line for De La Rue after it lost the contract to make Britain’s passports to a cheaper overseas rival, kicking off a downward spiral which eventually saw its chairman and chief executive ejected.
New boss Clive Vacher has been leading a turnaround, and said that he was ‘satisfied with the progress’ as De La Rue made operating profits of £4.6million for the six months to September 26, compared to a £9.2million loss the same time last year.
It is on track to make savings of £36million a year, after it shuttered its banknote factory in Gateshead, putting 260 jobs at risk.