Government faces criticism as it hints at Covid certificates in stores

In his press conference on Monday night prime minister Boris Johnson hinted that the UK was moving towards a system of Covid passports, although he said at the time certain “essential areas” of life would be unaffected. 

Pressed on the issue yesterday, a government spokesman said that passports would not be needed for when non-essential retail reopens next Monday. 

However, when asked whether high street shops would be required to check vaccination passports at a later stage this year, a spokesman said: “We are looking at how Covid status certificates could have an important role to play domestically as well as internationally. We will come forward with more detail on them and how they may work in due course,” according to The Times. 

Pressed whether clothing stores would count as essential shops not requiring certificates, the spokesman said: “I obviously don’t have that detail for you now.”

There is little information about how the vaccination passports will work, but it is being reported that they will likely treat at least one dose of a vaccine, a recent negative test or the presence of coronavirus antibodies as sufficient to allow a person to enter a venue. 

While they will not be required for patrons of pubs and restaurants when they can theoretically reopen indoor services with social distancing still in place, from May, there is speculation that hospitality firms will be offered the chance to check certificates and drop these measures. 

Labour said if the government extended the need for such passports to high street retailers it would oppose the measure as overreaching. 

Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, told Times Radio: “We will definitely have to look at the details of the legislation that is proposed, but I’m not convinced [about] asking someone to present their vaccine passport, a digital ID card on their phone, in order to gain entry to Next or H&M in the Highcross centre in Leicester — I don’t think that is fair. That is an ID card, that is discriminatory.”

The British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson also criticised the proposals. 

“While Covid status certification may play an important role in certain activities, such as international travel, our members are clear that it would not be appropriate or useful in a retail setting. 

“High streets and other shopping destinations rely on impulse and ad hoc purchases from customers who visit; this would be badly affected by the additional barriers to trade.

“Instead, we believe that continuing to follow the existing strict safety protocols, including regular cleaning, face coverings and regular hand washing are the best course of action to protect staff and customers in stores.”