NTIA calls for 'damaging' vaccine passports to be scrapped nationwide
It has been suggested the Government is preparing to drop Plan B measures in England at the end of the month, with The Telegraph reporting that Covid passes and work from home guidance are widely expected to be lifted from 26 Jan in England.
An announcement could be made confirming the decision as soon as this week.
Currently, NHS Covid passes are mandatory in England for entry into nightclubs and settings where large crowds gather including unseated indoor events with 500 or more attendees, unseated outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees and any event with 10,000 or more attendees.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have similar schemes in place.
Amid the reports, the NTIA, which represents some 1,400 independent bars, clubs and live music venues across the UK, has reaffirmed its view that the scheme is neither proportionate, nor effective in controlling the virus across the UK.
“With the devastating losses in hospitality and night time economy businesses over the festive period, and effects of limited cash flow being felt across the UK, our industry has been placed in an extremely fragile state,” says Michael Kill, CEO of the NTIA.
“Vaccine Passports play a considerable part in the continual trading losses associated with this difficult period, with businesses reporting up to 30% loss in trade directly related to this mitigation.”
Kill adds that at no point has the NTIA been privy to evidence or justification to substantiate the decision behind the adopting of vaccine passports.
“This scheme has been damaging for the late night sector in particular, without ever being demonstrated to achieve the purported objectives, and it is now time to draw a line under it and move on with a consistent approach to other parts of the UK,” he continues.
“Experts believe it will take several years for the hospitality and night time economy sectors to recover, but what is important is for the Government to set aside their political agenda and put people and businesses at the sharpest end of the pandemic first.”
