BLOOD, SWEAT & BEERS
Pubs could ask boozers for blood test to prove Covid immunity to get a pint
PUBS could ask punters to show a blood test in order to prove they are Covid immune for a pint, it has been reported.
Ministers are said to be considering Covid 'status checks' as a way of helping bars and other big venues to scrap social distancing rules.
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People could be required to take an antibody test to prove they have had the bug - which involves taking a sample of their blood for analysis.
Scientists believe that people who have recovered from Covid acquire natural immunity for up to at least five months.
And as well as past infection, punters could show proof of a jab or a recent negative test to give them their 'freedom pass'.
Boris Johnson said yesterday: “I do think there is going to be a role for certification. There are three basic components.
"There’s the vaccine, there’s your immunity you might have after you’d had Covid and there’s testing — three things that could work together.”
The NHS app could be converted to become a digital Covid certificate, allowing people to use their phone to prove they meet one of those criteria.
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Pubs could ask punters for blood test to prove they are Covid immune to get pint.
England's deputy chief medical officer, Jonathan Van-Tam, is understood to support the idea of using antibody tests as part of a certification scheme.
But the Prime Minister has acknowledged a number of moral issues around the idea.
Mr Johnson said yesterday: "There are lots of difficult issues, because there are some people who - for medical reasons - can't get a vaccination, pregnant women can't get a vaccination at the moment, you've got to be careful about how you do this.
"You might only be able to implement a thorough-going vaccination passport scheme even if you wanted such a thing in the context of when absolutely everybody had been offered a vaccine."
The PM has insisted the measures would not be introduced until every adult had received their vaccination appointment - and wouldn't affect the reopening of pubs outdoors next month.
Michael Gove also yesterday hinted at how the certificates would work when pubs re-open from next month.
Speaking to the Commons, he said: "My view on this is that a system that relies purely on vaccination would not be appropriate.
"But what would be right is a system that ensured we could open up our economy to the maximum extent that takes account of both vaccine status but also a recent test status and indeed potentially also antibody status as well.
"But the best thing to do would be to be guided by scientific and clinical advice and then subject that advice to proper, rigorous, ethical questioning, rather than taking an instant, off the shelf, instinctive approach."
Q&A
WHAT must I do to go to the pub?
You must prove you’ve had the jab, a natural immunity, or a recent negative test.
HOW will I prove my status?
The Government wants to add certificates to the NHS App, with a physical version for non-smartphone users.
WILL I have to social distance?
Not if you have the certificate.
WHAT if I’ve had no jab, don’t have antibodies or want a test?
You can go to pubs, bars or venues with social distancing.
WILL I need one to sit in a beer garden on April 12?
No, these measures don’t affect the reopening then.
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Venues could be allowed to do away with social distancing if they can limit entry to anyone who has had the bug, been vaccinated or provide a negative test, reports.
One source told the paper many pubs will face a choice between being half-full with social distancing measures in place - or using certificates so they could open at full capacity.
It's unclear how long such a system would be required.
But publicans, MPs and drinkers have all already rallied against the idea that customers should prove their health credentials at boozers.
Landlords insisted: “The only ID we need is proof of age.”
Pub groups Greene King, Marston's and Mitchells & Butlers are among the pubs who won't be imposing Covid vaccine passport rules on punters.
'IMPRACTICAL'
A number of the UK's leading pub chains have slammed the idea as "impractical", "discriminatory", and "unacceptable".
And trade bodies said making entry conditional on jabs was “simply unworkable” and would cause conflict between staff and customers.
Tory lockdown sceptic Steve Baker urged the Government not to “fall into this ghastly trap”.
He said we should not “tolerate businesses turning away customers who have shown an unfortunate hesitancy to take up the offer of a vaccine”.
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And Labour’s Ed Miliband said: “If this was really a public health measure, you wouldn’t be saying, ‘well, it’s going to be at the landlord’s discretion’.”
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Last night, the British Beer and Pub Association insisted the requirement would not be “appropriate or necessary”.
Greg Grundy, landlord of The Egremont in Worthing, West Sussex, also opposed the move, saying: “Unless government gets support for pubs right, then establishments that survived the wars will close.”
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Boris Johnson suggests vaccine certificates might not come into play until AFTER all people get a vaccine