Published
Mon, Jul 12, 2021, 17:55
- It won't be a legal requirement.
The UK government has today finalised details around the reopening of nightlife in England on Monday, July 19th.
As outlined last week, clubs and festivals can reopen without limits on capacity. There are no other concrete restrictions, though the government is "encouraging" larger and "higher-risk" events to use the NHS COVID Pass as a condition of entry. This won't be a legal requirement.
The NHS COVID Pass will be made available via the NHS app and website, or as a physical letter. If required, attendees would have to show either a recent negative test result, a positive antibody test or proof of a second vaccination at least ten days before the event, the Guardian reports.
It's not clear what constitutes a "higher-risk" event. The government website offers this description: "large crowded settings where people are likely to be in close proximity to others outside their household."
In addition to the pass, the government also encourages nightlife businesses to follow official safety guidance and take the necessary steps to uphold hygiene practices and keep staff and attendees safe. Isolating after testing positive for Covid-19 will be one of the few laws still applicable from next week.
These aren't the only issues on which Boris Johnson's government remains vague. Its failure to announce a Covid-19 insurance policy for festivals has already led to the cancellation of thousands of events across England.
Photo credit: Edward Howell