World Snooker Championships to be used to trial Covid Vaccine passports

The government has announced a number of sporting events including the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield will be used as trials in a scheme to help enable the safe return of mass gatherings and indoor events following the coronavirus lockdown.

Boris Johnson is expected to announce tomorrow Government plans for a Covid passport scheme which will start to be trialled this month at a series of pilot events.

People attending will have to show proof they have had a vaccination, are immune or clear of the virus.Ministers are hoping passes will allow the safe return of sports matches, conferences and night clubs in England.

They would show whether a person is vaccinated, had a recent negative test, or natural immunity determined by a positive test in the last six months.

The Prime Minister who will reveal more details of the scheme on Monday, said the government was doing “everything we can” to enable the return of mass events.

However, the proposals will be scrutinised heavily by MPs with many deeply suspicious about anything which smacks of a "vaccine passport" for domestic use.

More than 40 Tory MPs have declared objections to the idea, and Mr Johnson could struggle to get the plan through parliament if they decide to oppose it, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also indicating his party could refuse to back vaccine passports.

Many within the hospitality and retail sector have expressed their concerns about the potential use of vaccine passports, warning of “legal concerns” and issues with enforcement.

Which events are included and how many spectators will be allowed.

17 April-3 May: Snooker World Championships, Crucible Theatre, Sheffield – Up to 1,000 people a day (indoor seated)

18 April: FA Cup semi-final (Leicester v Southampton), Wembley – 4,000 (outdoor seated)

24-25 April: Three 10k runs, Hatfield Park – 3,000 people and up to 3,000 spectators at each event (outdoor, mass participation run)

25 April: Carabao Cup final (Manchester City v Tottenham), Wembley – 8,000 people (outdoor, seated)

15 May – FA Cup Final (TBD), Wembley – 21,000 people (outdoor, seated)

In developing the scheme, officials will take into account three factors – whether an individual has received the vaccine, has recently tested negative for the virus, or has “natural immunity” having tested positive in the previous six months.

The NHS is said to be currently working on ways of providing people with the means to demonstrate their Covid status through “digital and non-digital routes”.

The review is also looking at how ventilation and testing on entry could facilitate the safe return of audiences return to mass events and closed settings.

Ministers believe the scheme will be most useful in managing the risks where the are large numbers of people in close proximity such as music festivals, sporting matches and nightclubs.

Setting where certification will not be required include essential shops and public transport.

It will also not apply to businesses which are set to reopen over the coming weeks such as pubs, restaurants and non-essential retail.

Officials are working with clinical and ethical experts to ensure there are “appropriate exemptions” for people who are advised to the vaccine and for whom repeat testing would be difficult.

The first trial is due to take place on April 16 at the Hot Water Comedy Club in Liverpool, to be followed two days later by the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

Other events where the scheme is to be tested include the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield – running from from April 17 to May 3 – and a mass participation run at Hatfield House on April 24 and 25.

The pilots will culminate with the FA Cup Final, again at Wembley, on May 15.

Writing in The Mail On Sunday, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “We will examine the risks closely, plan to keep people safe, mitigate the dangers and, in doing, so we will be able to have spectators returning in full to events once more.

“Each successful pilot is a huge step forward towards the life we all miss sorely, every day.

Mr Johnson said: “We have made huge strides over the past few months with our vaccine programme and everyone in the country has made huge sacrifices to get us to this stage in our recovery from Covid-19.

“We are doing everything we can to enable the reopening of our country so people can return to the events, travel and other things they love as safely as possible, and these reviews will play an important role in allowing this to happen.”

The Prime Minister will also outline the Government’s approach for easing restrictions on foreign travel when its global travel task force reports on April 12.

Ministers have made clear that the ban on foreign travel will remain in place until at least May 17.

When it is finally lifted, it will be be replaced by a risk-based “traffic light” system with red, amber and green ratings for countries around the world.

This will be based on a range of factors – including the proportion of the population that has been vaccinated, rates of infection, emerging new variants and the country’s access to reliable scientific data and genomic sequencing.

Travellers arriving from countries rated “green” will not be required to isolate – although pre-departure and post-arrival tests will still be needed.

For those classed as “amber” or “red”, the restrictions will remain as they are will arrivals required to isolate or enter quarantine.

Officials said it was still too early to predict which countries would be on which list and they continue to advise against booking summer holidays abroad.

A further social distancing review is looking into ways of allowing closer contact between friends and families, enabling greater capacity on public transport and reduce distancing requirements within venues and workplaces.

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