Covid passes will need to be shown to gain entrance to certain venues, including nightclubs, from next week, Boris Johnson has announced.
The prime minister announced a raft of new measures from the government's 'Plan B', which will be used to try to slow the spread of the new Omicron variant of coronavirus.
From next week, venues will only allow entrance to people who can show an NHS Covid Pass, which proves someone has been vaccinated, has taken a lateral flow test and produced a negative result or has recently recovered from coronavirus.
Other measures announced by the prime minister tonight include asking people to work from home where possible and making face coverings compulsory in further public settings.
Announcing the new rules, Mr Johnson explained exactly which venues would need to implement the new rules - and it depends on their capacity, and whether they are a seated or unseated venue.
He said: "We will make the NHS Covid Pass mandatory for entry into nightclubs and venues where large crowds gather including unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor venues with more than 4,000 people venues and any venue with more than 10,000 people."
The rules will apply to places such as football stadiums and arenas, as well as smaller venues such as clubs.
People will be able to get hold of their NHS Covid Pass if they have only had two doses of a vaccine, the prime minister confirmed.
But, he said, the government will keep this under review as booster jabs are rolled out.
The new rules for venues will come into force next Wednesday, to give businesses a week to prepare.
They will also be subject to approval in Parliament on Monday next week.
Mr Johnson said the new rules will help "to keep these venues open at full capacity while giving everyone who attends them confidence that those around them have done the responsible thing to protect others".
The move brings the rules in England in line with those in other parts of the UK - but it has been met with criticism from the nightlife sector.
In Scotland, vaccine passports are already in force and have been since October, with people who are attending nightclubs, indoor events with 500 or more people, outdoor events with 4,000 or more people and any event with 10,000 or more to show they are double vaccinated before entering.
Since December 6, a negative PCR test taken within 24 hours of entry to a venue or a negative lateral flow test have also been accepted as part of the passes. Scotland’s Covid passes are called the NHS Scotland COVID Status app.
In Wales, vaccine passports are in force in cinemas, theatres, concert halls as well as nightclubs and large events.
They are also needed for unseated indoor venues with more than 500 people in the audience, outdoor or indoor unseated venues with a capacity over 4,000 and any event with more than 10,000 people.
The passes can be downloaded by people who are double vaccinated or have tested negatively within 48 hours of entering the venue.
Similarly to England, Wales uses the NHS Covid Pass.
A government report in June, when such a mandate was first considered in England, concluded that the negative impacts of introducing vaccine passports outweighed the public health benefits.
The report suggested they could also discourage people from attending venues.
Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said today's announcement came at the “worst possible time” for the nightlife industry.
He said: "Vaccine passports have a damaging impact on Night Time Economy businesses, as we have seen in other parts of the UK where they have been implemented like Scotland – where trade is down 30 per cent – and Wales, where it down 26 per cent.
“The UK government have twice ruled out vaccine passports before twice changing their mind. The mixed public health messages this week that have been coming out of the government have arrived at the worst possible time – the pre-Christmas period is absolutely crucial for our sector. And now it is announced damaging vaccine passports are to be implemented.
“Far from ‘saving’ Christmas, the prime minister has given our sector the horrible present of more pain for businesses desperately trying to recoup losses from earlier in the pandemic."
