From today, Covid passes will be needed to gain entry into some venues in England.
It is now mandatory for all nightclubs and large venues to check the Covid status of all visitors aged 18 and over.
Adults will need to provide proof of double vaccination, or a negative coronavirus test within the previous 48 hours, before they attend certain settings.
It comes as Boris Johnson suffered the worst Conservative rebellion since he became Prime Minister, as nearly 100 Tory MPs voted against measures to usher in the mandatory use of Covid passes.
MPs voted 369 to 126 last night to approve the mandatory use of Covid passes.
As part of the Plan B measures, MPs also backed the reintroduction of mandatory mask-wearing in shops and on public transport and making vaccines compulsory for NHS workers.
Only certain venues and events will be subject to the new rules on Covid Passes - but what about places such as the cinema, theatre or a football stadium?
Here's what you need to know.
Where do I need a Covid Pass?
Covid passes will be needed to gain entry to the following venues and events:
Do I need a Covid Pass to go to the cinema? What about the theatre?
Some venues will not require a Covid Pass for entry, while others will only do so for certain events.
According to the government guidance, the following settings do not need to apply Covid status checks as a condition of entry, unless they are holding an event that meets the criteria:
- museums or art galleries
- theme parks and fairgrounds
- other tourist, heritage, or cultural sites (including zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens)
- recreation and leisure facilities (such as bowling alleys, amusement arcades and bingo halls)
- sport and physical activity facilities (such as gyms, swimming pools, and skating rinks)
- play areas or centres
- casinos
- cinemas
- transport hubs and public transport
- retail, including markets, shops, shopping centres, and supermarkets
Status checks are mandatory for venues such as nightclubs, regardless of whether they are hosting an event or how many people are attending.
However, for large venues such as sports stadiums and theatres, status checks are dependant on whether the event meets the required threshold on capacity, as outlined above.
For example, an indoor theatre show with an audience of less than 500 people would not require staus checks, but one with a larger audience may.
How do I get my Covid pass?
You can use the NHS Covid Pass to show your Covid status, which can be found via the NHS app or the online Covid pass service.
To get a Covid Pass, you must have proof of one of the following:
- you are vaccinated with 2 doses of an approved vaccine (or one of the single-dose Janssen vaccine)
- you have taken a PCR or rapid lateral flow test within the last 48 hours
- you are exempt on the basis of a medical exemption or clinical trial participation
If you cannot apply for a Covid Pass digitally using the NHS App or online service, you can ask for an NHS COVID Pass letter to be sent to you by post. You can also apply on behalf of someone else.
Venues will also accept a valid text or email confirmation of a recent test result.
