So-called ‘vaccine passports’ will not be required to visit the pub once a Covid-19 jab is approved, Michael Gove has said.
Speaking on Sky News this morning, the minister for the Cabinet Office said he was not planning on introducing vaccine passports and nor was he aware of any discussions taking place on such an idea.
It was suggested yesterday that pubs, restaurants and cinemas may be given the powers to turn away customers if they have not been vaccinated.
Nadhim Zahawi, the minister in charge of the vaccine rollout, warned businesses and football stadiums could ask customers for proof that they have been vaccinated on entry in a similar way QR codes are currently used.
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Mr Gove said the most important thing to do ‘is make sure that we vaccinate as many people as possible’.
But when asked by presenter Kay Burley if people would have to prove they had been vaccinated to enjoy freedoms such as going to the pub, theatre or sporting event, he replied ‘no’.
He said the Government would rely on the scientific arguments to convince people to have the vaccine.
However he acknowledged it would be a challenge persuading the ‘small minority’ who are reluctant.
It is hoped a Covid-19 jab could begin to be rolled out before Christmas if one of a number of recent breakthroughs are approved in the coming weeks.
The Government has applied for emergency approval for the Pfizer jab and says the NHS is ready to administer it as soon as they get the go-ahead.
Hopes for restrictions to be lifted by Spring rest on the mass roll-out of a Covid-19 vaccine.
Today, Mr Gove refused to rule out a third national lockdown, though he said he was ‘as confident as can be’ that one would not be needed.
New tiers come into force across England tomorrow, with MPs set to vote on the restrictions later today.
Despite a growing Tory rebellion the measures are expected to be approved, meaning 99% of the country will be living under tough tier two and three rules when lockdown ends.
Yesterday tier two rules on going to the pub were thrown into confusion when a minister said a scotch egg could count as a ‘substantial meal’.
Under the new system, pubs and restaurants can only serve alcohol to customers who have also ordered a substantial meal.
Environment Secretary George Eustice stated that he thought a Scotch egg ‘probably would’ count if there was ‘table service’ involved in the venue.
Downing Street later insisted that the concept of a substantial meal was well understood in the hospitality industry, without saying whether that included a Scotch egg.
Mr Gove repeated that argument on Sky News today.
When asked about the definition of a ‘substantial meal’ he said: ‘The definition of a substantial meal has been there in law for some time.
‘If you or I were to take a 16 or 17-year-old out to the pub, we could order an alcoholic drink for them alongside the substantial meal that they have.
‘That is a well understood definition in the hospitality trade.’
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/12/01/vaccine-passports-ruled-out-for-pub-trips-after-covid-jab-approved-13680542/