Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that proof of full COVID-19 vaccination will be required when entering nightclubs and other large crowd events by the end of September.
During the press conference earlier today (July 19) on the relaxation of Covid restrictions in England, the PM also announced that “proof of a negative test will no longer be enough”.
This means that by late September all adults will have had the chance to receive a full vaccination scheme.
Currently, anyone who tests negative, those who have been fully vaccinated, and those who gained natural immunity can receive a COVID-19 pass via the NHS App or NHS website.
Nightclubs and other large venues have been advised to adopt the NHS Covid Pass as an entry requirement.
The Chief Executive of REKOM UK, Peter Marks, which owns nightclub chains like Pryzm, confirmed last week that the NHS COVID Pass will not be a requirement for users to enter the nightclubs that the firm owns, citing concerns that doing so would create a barrier to customer enjoyment.
Johnson added that he did not want to close nightclubs again and that for peopleās freedom to stay, they must remain cautious.
He also urged everyone to get their vaccination if they have not already done so.
This announcement comes as England moved to Step Four of its lockdown easing today, where all legal restrictions on face masks, distancing, and capacity restrictions have been removed.
Nightclubs have struggled to open during the pandemic, and today marks the first time they can fully open since the pandemic started 16 months ago.
Other countries are increasingly using vaccination status as a condition of entry, with the EU announcing its own, bloc-wide Covid certification.
Lead image: Number 10