Plans For Domestic Vaccine Passports Will Be Scrapped Under Lockdown Easing Measures
Boris Johnson has confirmed Covid certification will not be used domestically
2 min read
The government has confirmed plans to introduce a domestic vaccine certification scheme will be ditched as part of the final lockdown easing measures.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced people will not be expected to show their vaccination status before being granted access to large-scale events or businesses from 19 July.
Ministers had repeatedly suggested the controversial certification system could be made mandatory for those attending busy events such as sports matches and concerts.
But a new review into whether they could potentially allow large-scale gatherings to go ahead safely has instead concluded the plans should be scrapped entirely.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said on Monday that "following the conclusion of our certification review there will be no legal requirements on the use of Covid status certification as a condition for entry for any setting".
They added that businesses would be able to "voluntarily adopt certification" using the NHS app to prove a person's vaccine status, but added there would be no legal requirements underpinning their use.
The move comes after Johnson confirmed all other businesses, such as nightclubs would be able to open from 19 July while those, such as concert halls, pubs and sporting venues will have their capacity limits removed entirely.
The government also confirmed as part of the plans that requirements around checking in to venues through the use of QR codes or paper forms would also be ditched later this month.
The announcement comes after growing anger from MPs over the "discriminatory" plans, while the Equalities and Human Rights Committee said a vaccine certification system risked creating a "two-tier society".
The government also confirmed the NHS app would continue to be available for those who were required to demonstrate their vaccine status when planning to travel abroad.
But the PM's spokesperson said new rules could be brought in later this summer to relax self-isolation rules for those returning from amber list countries if they could prove they had already received both jabs.
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