Politics

Covid passports for pubs 'shelved' as drinkers set to be spared vaccine scheme


Boris Johnson has shelved plans for punters to need Covid passports when going to the pub, it is reported today.

It’s understood the Prime Minister is keeping the focus for ‘certification’ away from hospitality venues and more towards travel and large events.

A senior Downing Street source told the Mirror no formal decisions have been made yet, but confirmed the focus is on large events and major venues.

It comes as the government prepares to roll out a scheme for people to show they’ve had one of three things – a vaccine, or a recent negative test, or a previous infection.

Until now the so-called ‘vaccine passports’ or Covid passports hadn’t been ruled out for pubs.

A formal review said they “could play a role in reducing social distancing requirements” in hospitality – for example allowing pubs to drop the two-metre rule – from June 21 at the earliest.

Last month Mr Johnson did not rule the concept of needing certification in the pub and said the scheme “should not be totally alien to us”.

But the plans sparked a furious backlash from Tory MPs and the hospitality industry, who said they would be another “burden” for venues already struggling.



Boris Johnson had hinted at Covid passports in pubs
Boris Johnson had hinted at Covid passports in pubs

The review admitted Covid passports would have “significant implications” for pubs and “this will be further considered in consultation with industry.”

And last week the Prime Minister indicated he was moving away from the idea of passports for pubs, saying they would “just” be for industries that “proved very tough to open last year” – like nightclubs and big events.

He told a No10 press briefing: “What we are looking at – what I think any responsible government would look at – is how we use evidence of people’s Covid status just to open up some of those things that are really tough, and did prove very tough to open last year.”

Claims that passports for pubs had been shelved emerged in the Daily Mail.

A government source told the newspaper: “I would be amazed if we introduce Covid certification for hospitality this summer.

“The focus is more on big events and reopening sectors that we struggled to open last year.”

Some kind of vaccine certification system for travel abroad is expected within weeks, in time for foreign holidays to restart from May 17 at the earliest.



Officials are looking at repurposing the NHS Covid-19 app
Officials are looking at repurposing the NHS Covid-19 app

Separately, a Covid passport scheme for domestic use could also be announced in the coming weeks, with event pilots due to end in mid-May.

Officials have looked at repurposing the NHS Covid-19 app, already downloaded well over 20million times, to show people’s status on vaccine, testing or previous infection.

But the government still has not defined exactly what events or venues a passport will be needed for.

The review is looking at what will happen if individual firms and venues take matters into their own hands and demand people show their Covid status on entry.

No10 sources have dismissed reports that Covid passports could be needed in high street shops, and downplayed reports they could be used in pubs.

Instead a trial of “certification” and large events has so far focused on ticketed, organised venues where people can take a rapid Covid test before entry.

These include the snooker world championships and the FA Cup. So far people are not being asked for their vaccine status.





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