Cinemas, theatres and restaurants could avoid inclusion in Covid passport scheme as ministers plot scaled back programme and question its health benefits
- Pubs are already excused having to check the vaccine status of punters
- More firms set to avoid measures critics say will constrict business
- Review expected to report on the programme scope by the end of the month
Covid passports may be waived for cinemas, theatres and restaurants as ministers plan to scale back the circumstances where they are needed.
Pubs are already excused having to check the vaccine status of punters amid an outcry and now more businesses are set to avoid measures critics say will have a constricting effect on business.
A review is expected to report on the scope of any domestic passport scheme by the end of the month.
But ministers questioned their health benefits at a meeting on the subject last week, the Telegraph reported.
It also said that there were feared that physical passports for those without smartphones might be a forgery risk.
Amid nosediving hospitalisation rates across England a source told the paper: ‘This different reality has prompted people saying, ”well actually, I saw the benefit of it before but do we really need it?”’
Covid passports may be waived for cinemas, theatres and restaurants as ministers plan to scale back the circumstances where they are needed.
Ministers questioned the health benefits of the passports given the vaccine success rate, at a meeting on the subject last week, the Telegraph reported.
Pubs are already excused having to check the vaccine status of punters amid an outcry and now more businesses are set to avoid measures critics say will have a constricting effect on business.
However, strip clubs are expected to be one area where passports are required.
The Sun reported today that ‘adult entertainment venues’ will join stadium events and large crowd venues like nightclubs in requiring proof of vaccine status.
They are due to reopen from June 21 under Step 4 of the lockdown easing.
Last week Boris Johnson appeared to play down the prospect of rolling out domestic Covid passports and keeping social distancing rules in place beyond the last step in his roadmap on June 21.
Addressing a Downing Street press conference, Mr Johnson said ministers will set out later this month ‘what role there could be, if any, for certification and social distancing’ in a hint that both could be ditched.
Tory MPs are adamant that social distancing should be axed completely from June 21.
They are also against the domestic rollout of so-called Covid Status Certification amid fears the documents could be used to determine entry to pubs and shops.
Hospitality bosses have said a return to unrestricted trading is critical if pubs, bars and restaurants are to bounce back from repeated lockdowns.