Covid passports could exempt bars and nightclubs from further restrictions

Bars and nightclubs that introduce vaccine passports could be exempt from future social distancing measures, the government has suggested.

It is currently exploring the idea as an alternative to changing the law to mandate vaccine passports, something Prime Minister Boris Johnson said could be adopted next month, The Telegraph has reported.

The latest proposal would be a more carrot than stick approach, with crowded venues such as nightclubs offered incentives to only admit those that can prove they are double-jabbed, rather than bringing in mandatory measures.

This would enable them to stay open at full capacity if there was another wave of the virus that meant social distancing restrictions were brought in elsewhere.

According to the report, one adviser to a cabinet minister said the idea was being discussed, saying that there was now momentum inside the government behind some form of Covid certification this autumn.

Plans to introduce vaccine passports were announced on the much-billed ‘Freedom Day’ last month, causing outrage among nightclub operators, and were described as a “hammer blow” to the late-night sector.

A senior source at one music association body said that nightclubs and concert venues were more concerned about a return of capacity limits than adopting vaccine passports.

“We are absolutely terrified of social distancing coming back in. The thing that will really kill the sector is if they start reintroducing capacity limits,” the source told The Telegraph.