A North West cyber technology firm has submitted a plan to the Government to get fans back into stadiums by using Covid-19 rapid testing kits that produce results in just 10 minutes.
The 'Fans Are Back' initiative has been created by Manchester firm VST Enterprises Ltd along with various partners, and promises to get football, rugby and snooker fans back into stadiums in a "safe and controlled way".
It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this month said he hoped to get stadiums open for fans by October, and VST has submitted pilot programmes to the Government's Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
The pilot scheme would work by a test group of 500-5,000 home fans downloading its 'V-Health Passport' onto their phones before testing day, including their official Government ID and personal details. They would attend a pre-defined testing location the day before the event, where they would present their V-Health passport, and take the Covid test.
Under the 'Fans Are Back' plans, the test would take one minute, with results issued in 10 minutes.
If negative, the fan will be asked to return home and self-isolate until the pilot match.
If positive, the fan's details will be fed back to the authorities for test and tracing purposes, and they will be told to self-isolate under usual Government guidelines.
VST said unlike contact tracing apps used by the Government, the V-Health passport does not track or trace a person's live location - and ensures personal data is "ultra secure" using the most advanced security protocols and encryption.
The proposals have been described by former Sports Minister Richard Caborn as "game-changing".
He said that pilot programmes would positively assist the Governments plans - and "give confidence" to the fans to allow stadiums safely to re open again in October.
He added: “This is exactly what the Government need to be encouraging sports administrators to adopt for fans to be safe in coming back into the sports stadiums and major events. By running the FANS ARE BACK test pilot programme this will allow the football and rugby clubs to trial a program of rapid testing and using a V-Health Passport to confirm and authorise a person's Covid status.
"In my opinion it is a significant and positive way in ensuring that spectator sports can resume in the UK where we test test test and use a health passport to validate that test result.
"That is the only way we can ensure that sports fans are safely entering a stadium as test negative.”
VST Enterprises Ltd said it has worked on the concept with its sports partners REDSTRIKE, public safety and event management partners HALO Solutions and occupational health care company Latus Health.
The company said the pilot programs will cover football, rugby and snooker initially working with the Government and other relevant authorities
If the trials are successful, pilot programs will then be rolled out across music concerts, theatre and other entertainment venues.
