Plans are being reported that Ministers say could allow millions could go to pubs with no social distancing. These plans will require drinkers to use their mobile phones to prove they are free of Covid. Fury has erupted over the idea of what is in effect coronavirus ‘passports’.
This app would be used for citizens to prove they had either had the vaccine, a recent negative test or antibodies from having Covid-19 before. Meeting these criteria would then provide a virtual ‘coronavirus certificate’. This would then likely be rolled out for football matches, business conferences and even wedding venues, it has been claimed.
Reports are suggesting that this being successful could allow for venues taking part could drop all social distancing rules. However, these plans have been slammed on liberty grounds as well as criticisms that for those relying on a negative test, these certificates could be valid for as little as 24 hours. UNN’s Oliver Down understands that officials want to modify an existing NHS app to facilitate the ‘passports’ scheme.
Michael Gove is currently undertaking a review and is expected to conclude that review in the start of April. Hospitality bosses such as Tim Martin have branded the idea ‘unworkable, costly and discriminatory’ and Oliver Down has spoken with a number of Tory MPs who have stated that they would not be in favour of such a scheme.
Steve Baker has slammed the move. He has said ‘We will end up swiping in everywhere…. creating an enormous audit trail of everywhere we’ve been based on our health status. It’s the most extraordinary upending of the principles that I thought the Conservative Party stood for. I’m very clear for me it’s an existential issue, it’s a die in the ditch issue. I will not at any stage be supporting the idea of the public living in the embrace of the state to this extent’.
Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
[sibwp_form id=4]
