Vaccine passports could be required in England in a wide range of venues under No10’s Covid ‘Plan B’
Vaccine passports could be required in England for nightclubs, music venues, and sports grounds under No10’s Covid ‘Plan B’
Proof of Covid vaccination could be introduced in a wide range of venuesIt would apply at nightclubs and crowded indoor and outdoor venues But the plans will only go ahead if coronavirus figures become ‘concerning’
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Vaccine passports will be required for those attending nightclubs, music venues, festivals and sports grounds in England under the Government’s plans if a fourth wave overwhelms the NHS.
The measures – part of the Government’s contingency ‘Plan B’ – will only be introduced if the country faces a difficult winter with rising Covid cases in the colder months, the Government said.
It said on Monday it was confident Plan A would prevent the NHS from facing unsustainable pressure.
But it published its Plan B saying if it was needed, it would have to act quickly and adopt measures like vaccine certification at short notice.
Health Minister Maggie Throup said the vaccine rollout has ’tilted the odds in our favour’, but the Government must be ‘prepared for all scenarios’.
Scotland already announced vaccine passports would be mandatory for over-18s in crowded settings from October 1, but plans for the measures in England were seemingly halted following backlash.
A further 40 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid as of Monday, bringing the UK total to 136,208, and there had been a further 37,960 lab-confirmed cases.
Vaccine passports will be required for those attending nightclubs, music venues, festivals and sports grounds in England under the Government’s plans if a fourth wave overwhelms the NHS
The Plan B proposals, published by the Department of Health, draw on the findings of a review into vaccine passports earlier this year, which concluded that certification could help keep events going and businesses open.
They set out how over-18s going to certain events could be required to be fully vaccinated.
The events listed are all nightclubs and other venues open after 1am with alcohol, music, and dancing.
Indoor events with more than 500 attendees – such as concerts – would also have to check vaccination status, if people are going to be in close proximity to other households.
Even outdoor venues – including festivals – would be hit with the measures if there are more than 4,000 attendees.
And any location with more than 10,000 people attending – such as music and sports stadiums – would also have to comply.
But certain events would be except from having to use the Covid pass, including places of worship, wedding ceremonies, funerals and other commemorative events.
Staff aged over 18 could also be required to test regularly if they are not double-jabbed or exempt from getting a coronavirus vaccine.
The Government is asking for views from businesses, event organisers, and venue operators on its proposals by October 12.
But it encouraged responses to be submitted sooner in case vaccine passports need to be introduced at short notice.
Ms Throup said: ‘Our autumn and winter plan puts us on a sure footing and gives the whole country the best possible chance of living with Covid in the months ahead, without the need for unwanted social and economic restrictions.
‘The vaccine programme has tilted the odds in our favour in our shared fight against this virus and while we are totally confident the careful steps we are taking will help rule out the need for mandatory vaccine certificates, we need to be prepared for all scenarios.
‘We know these kinds of contingency plans will only work if businesses and the public get to have their say and I’m urging everyone who could have to use certification: give us your views, give us your ideas.’
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said earlier this month that pressures on A&E and increasing hospital admissions could trigger the Plan B.
The Government said it continues to encourage the voluntary use of certification and the NHS Covid Pass.
More than 200 events and venues used certification on a voluntary basis over the summer, including matches in the Premier League, festivals such as the Reading and Leeds Festivals and All Points East, some nightclubs, and the BBC Proms.
