Covid passports ‘too much hassle’

Nightclubs and music venues will reopen without the need for Covid tests or vaccine passports from July 19, the Evening Standard reports.

Michael Gove, the Cabinet minister leading a review, is understood to believe it would impose “too much hassle” on the public and businesses to require tests for night-time venues.

A government source said: “We are increasingly confident that people are protected and the plan is to reopen everything, with no exceptions.”

The verdict was hailed as a “godsend” by leaders of the night-time sector.

It follows the success of pilot schemes, including one at a nightclub, that showed “no substantial outbreaks” and strong compliance with mitigation measures.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said: “If you are in a late-night London pub and thinking of going on to the club around the corner, there’s a good chance that having to take a test would make you question whether to bother.

Ministers could revisit the idea of tests or vaccine passports for indoor hospitality and entertainments this winter if a surge of infections threatens Christmas openings.