UK looks at testing COVID-19 certification to ease curbs

Protesters participate in a ‘Kill The Bill’ protest in London. Pic/AFP

Britain is to trial a system of "COVID status certification" at events including football matches in the coming weeks as a possible way out of virus restrictions, the government said late on Saturday.

The Downing Street statement confirmed that Britain plans to issue identification showing whether people are vaccinated, have antibodies or have tested negative, despite opposition from lawmakers in Prime Minister Boris Johnson's own party. The government is to announce on Monday that the system will be tested at events from mid-April including the FA Cup Semi-Final and Final at Wembley Stadium, the statement said. It quoted Johnson as saying the government was doing all it could "so people can return to the events, travel and other things they love as safely as possible".

The test events "will play an important role in allowing this to happen", he said. The system will show whether someone has a negative test, vaccination or immunity due to a recent COVID infection. This comes as MPs from the ruling Conservative Party as well as the opposition Labour party have publicly opposed a domestic "vaccine passport" as discriminatory.

Labour leader Keir Starmer argued that such ID goes against British instincts, while a cross-party group of MPs has said it could deprive people of jobs and services. Downing Street said the pilot system "could allow higher-risk settings to be opened up more safely and with more participants". The UK has given 31 million people a first vaccine dose and a second dose to more than 5 million. The status certification system is intended for events where large numbers of people are close to each other, such as nightclubs, festivals and sports matches, the government said.

It added that it should not be used for public transport or entry to essential shops. Pubs and restaurants, which are set to reopen indoor service from May 17, will not need to ask people's virus status. The state-funded health service is developing digital and non-digital ID, the government said. The test scheme was welcomed by football clubs as it means some fans will be able to attend fixtures.

Fourth wave already underway: Iran prez

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the fourth wave of the pandemic is already underway in two provinces. "If people in other provinces do not honour (health guidelines), they may experience the fourth wave as well," Rouhani said.

‘Follow rules and avoid a fourth wave'

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said respecting restrictions during Easter and in April will be "crucial" so that "there is not a fourth wave of COVID-19 in the country". The President appealed to the citizens to "do everything in their power" to stop the transmission of virus.

3,36,298
No. of new cases reported globally in the past 24 hours

13,08,97,256
Total no. of cases worldwide

28,48,308
Total no. of deaths worldwide

Source: WHO/Johns Hopkins