England considering Covid 'certificates' for larger events after lockdown

England considering Covid 'certificates' for larger events after lockdown
March 19, 2021, 12:10 pm

Oliver Dowden said he hoped people would be able to return to events ‘in significant numbers’ from 21 June.

for larger events after lockdown

Culture secretary Oliver Dowden says government is piloting different methods while review is under way

Coronavirus “certificates” that would show whether people have had a vaccine or a negative test are being considered by the government as a way of getting people back to larger events, the culture secretary has said.

Oliver Dowden told Sky News that he hoped people would be able to return “in significant numbers” from 21 June if “all goes to plan”.

“We’re piloting the different things that will enable that to happen – clearly it will have to be done in a Covid-secure way,” he said.

There would be tests of one-way systems, masks and hand-hygiene, he added. “Another thing that we are considering is a Covid certification, and we will be testing whether we can use Covid certification to help facilitate the return of sports.”

He said final decisions had not been made and the department was working with the Cabinet Office minister, Michael Gove, who is leading a review.

Dowden said: “Social distancing makes it very, very difficult … for theatre productions to be run profitably. It makes it very, very difficult for our football clubs to run profitably if you have to have those large distances between people.” But the government was proceeding with caution because it wanted to ensure a “permanent reopening”.

He said the roadmap out of lockdown would not be affected by vaccine supply issues, but there was still not yet a “full picture” of data after the return of most pupils to schools.

“The roadmap is not affected, so at the moment we remain on course for the next easing on 29 ,” he told LBC.

source: Alexandra Topping

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