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| Covid-19: PM promises review on issues of vaccine passports | Covid-19: PM promises review on issues of vaccine passports |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The UK “cannot be discriminatory” against those people who are unable to take a Covid vaccine, says the prime minister | The UK “cannot be discriminatory” against those people who are unable to take a Covid vaccine, says the prime minister |
| There are "deep and complex issues" with using vaccine passports or certificates to prove someone's Covid "status", Boris Johnson has said. | There are "deep and complex issues" with using vaccine passports or certificates to prove someone's Covid "status", Boris Johnson has said. |
| Announcing a review of the proposal, he said using certificates to allow visits to venues such as pubs and theatres was a "novelty for our country". | Announcing a review of the proposal, he said using certificates to allow visits to venues such as pubs and theatres was a "novelty for our country". |
| Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove will lead the review. | Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove will lead the review. |
| Mr Johnson said he was "very optimistic" most Covid restrictions in England can be lifted on 21 June. | Mr Johnson said he was "very optimistic" most Covid restrictions in England can be lifted on 21 June. |
| Vaccine passports have been discussed by countries, including Greece, and operators such as Saga Cruises, as a way to safely reopen international leisure travel. | Vaccine passports have been discussed by countries, including Greece, and operators such as Saga Cruises, as a way to safely reopen international leisure travel. |
| But ministers have frequently appeared to dismiss introducing a similar scheme domestically within the UK for hospitality or leisure activities. | But ministers have frequently appeared to dismiss introducing a similar scheme domestically within the UK for hospitality or leisure activities. |
| It comes as Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said - if all goes to plan - she expects to see a phased but significant re-opening of the Scottish economy in the last week of April. | It comes as Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said - if all goes to plan - she expects to see a phased but significant re-opening of the Scottish economy in the last week of April. |
| A further 8,489 coronavirus cases were recorded across the UK on Tuesday and 548 more people have died within 28 days of a positive test - taking the total by that measure to 121,305. | A further 8,489 coronavirus cases were recorded across the UK on Tuesday and 548 more people have died within 28 days of a positive test - taking the total by that measure to 121,305. |
| More than 17.9 million people across the UK have now received at least one vaccine dose, according to latest government figures. | More than 17.9 million people across the UK have now received at least one vaccine dose, according to latest government figures. |
| What are vaccine passports? | What are vaccine passports? |
| Will I need to be vaccinated to get a job? | Will I need to be vaccinated to get a job? |
| What's the roadmap for lifting England's lockdown? | What's the roadmap for lifting England's lockdown? |
| Speaking during a visit to a south London school, Mr Johnson said the UK had "never thought in terms of having something that you have to show to go to a pub or a theatre". | Speaking during a visit to a south London school, Mr Johnson said the UK had "never thought in terms of having something that you have to show to go to a pub or a theatre". |
| He said there were "ethical issues" about the role of government "in mandating… or banning people from doing such a thing". | He said there were "ethical issues" about the role of government "in mandating… or banning people from doing such a thing". |
| He added: "We can't be discriminatory against people who can't have the vaccine, there might be a medical reason, or some people may genuinely refuse to have one - I think that's a mistake." | He added: "We can't be discriminatory against people who can't have the vaccine, there might be a medical reason, or some people may genuinely refuse to have one - I think that's a mistake." |
| But the prime minister said it was possible to consider the issue at the same time as the rollout of the vaccine. | But the prime minister said it was possible to consider the issue at the same time as the rollout of the vaccine. |
| It is understood the review will not just consider vaccination history alone, with the possibility of negative Covid tests being recorded to gain access to some events or services, if required by the organisers. | It is understood the review will not just consider vaccination history alone, with the possibility of negative Covid tests being recorded to gain access to some events or services, if required by the organisers. |
| One option could see the NHS app used to record both, with an individual then able to show their status on the app if required. | One option could see the NHS app used to record both, with an individual then able to show their status on the app if required. |
| The government previously said it would consider how to facilitate Covid certificates for people who needed to travel to other countries which demanded them. | The government previously said it would consider how to facilitate Covid certificates for people who needed to travel to other countries which demanded them. |
| The review's findings are hoped to be available before the final stage of England's lockdown easing on 21 June, the earliest date by which ministers hope most Covid measures can end. | |
| Global framework | Global framework |
| A No 10 spokesman said an international consensus needed to be built on how to allow greater foreign travel, which the UK was seeking to achieve via the G7 and other multilateral discussions. | A No 10 spokesman said an international consensus needed to be built on how to allow greater foreign travel, which the UK was seeking to achieve via the G7 and other multilateral discussions. |
| "It will be for different countries to determine their own regimes in relation to the quarantine and who they want to allow in, and we want to try and work together to get some sort of international framework," he said. | "It will be for different countries to determine their own regimes in relation to the quarantine and who they want to allow in, and we want to try and work together to get some sort of international framework," he said. |
| Greek tourism minister Haris Theoharis told the BBC last week that early technical discussions were under way with UK officials about how a potential passport scheme might work. | Greek tourism minister Haris Theoharis told the BBC last week that early technical discussions were under way with UK officials about how a potential passport scheme might work. |
| Saga Cruises announced last month it would require all travellers to prove they had received two vaccine doses before departure. | Saga Cruises announced last month it would require all travellers to prove they had received two vaccine doses before departure. |
| "You will be required to bring the vaccination document and/or evidence with you as proof at the time of boarding," its website said. | "You will be required to bring the vaccination document and/or evidence with you as proof at the time of boarding," its website said. |
| Holidays in the UK or abroad are not currently permitted under coronavirus restrictions. | Holidays in the UK or abroad are not currently permitted under coronavirus restrictions. |
| Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said a review of how to return to international travel while managing risk from imported cases and virus variants would report on 12 April. | Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said a review of how to return to international travel while managing risk from imported cases and virus variants would report on 12 April. |
| Meanwhile, holiday firms and airlines have reported a surge in bookings since plans for easing lockdown in England were unveiled on Monday. | Meanwhile, holiday firms and airlines have reported a surge in bookings since plans for easing lockdown in England were unveiled on Monday. |
| Labour shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds told the BBC a review of vaccine passports was "sensible" but said it should be "conclusive" and consider all the evidence available. | Labour shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds told the BBC a review of vaccine passports was "sensible" but said it should be "conclusive" and consider all the evidence available. |
| Christopher Dye, professor of epidemiology at Oxford University, told the BBC that vaccine passports would "certainly be helpful in releasing the lockdown" but they should not "make things worse for people of lesser means". | Christopher Dye, professor of epidemiology at Oxford University, told the BBC that vaccine passports would "certainly be helpful in releasing the lockdown" but they should not "make things worse for people of lesser means". |
| Mr Johnson said his roadmap for easing lockdown measures, laid out on Monday, was "a cautious but irreversible approach". | Mr Johnson said his roadmap for easing lockdown measures, laid out on Monday, was "a cautious but irreversible approach". |
| Due to the vaccine programme, the country could "look at that 21 June date with some optimism". | Due to the vaccine programme, the country could "look at that 21 June date with some optimism". |
| He said while "some people will say that we're going to be going too fast, some people will say we're going too slow", but he thought the balance of the reopening was right. | He said while "some people will say that we're going to be going too fast, some people will say we're going too slow", but he thought the balance of the reopening was right. |
| Mr Johnson said each phase of unlocking restrictions - such as children going back to school - would be "adding to the budget of risk". | Mr Johnson said each phase of unlocking restrictions - such as children going back to school - would be "adding to the budget of risk". |
| This is why time was needed between measures to "observe" the impact, he added. | This is why time was needed between measures to "observe" the impact, he added. |
| Earlier, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he wanted measures to become a "matter of personal responsibility and social norms" that could see people choosing to wear masks on public transport. | |
| Prof Sir John Bell, regius chair of medicine at Oxford University, told BBC Radio 4's World at One he thought, and hoped, the country would get back to the stage where people did not wear masks, with Covid "operating in the background" like flu. | Prof Sir John Bell, regius chair of medicine at Oxford University, told BBC Radio 4's World at One he thought, and hoped, the country would get back to the stage where people did not wear masks, with Covid "operating in the background" like flu. |
| LOOK-UP TOOL: How many cases in your area? | LOOK-UP TOOL: How many cases in your area? |
| YOUR QUESTIONS: We answer your queries | YOUR QUESTIONS: We answer your queries |
| THE R NUMBER: What it means and why it matters | THE R NUMBER: What it means and why it matters |
| TEST AND TRACE: How does it work? | TEST AND TRACE: How does it work? |
| The devolved nations have the power to set their own restrictions. | The devolved nations have the power to set their own restrictions. |
| Outlining her own roadmap, Ms Sturgeon said she hoped to end stay at home restrictions from 5 April in Scotland. | Outlining her own roadmap, Ms Sturgeon said she hoped to end stay at home restrictions from 5 April in Scotland. |
| Meanwhile in Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said he hopes the country's "stay-at-home" requirement could end within three weeks, with some non-essential shops and hairdressers possibly reopening at the same time. | Meanwhile in Wales, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said he hopes the country's "stay-at-home" requirement could end within three weeks, with some non-essential shops and hairdressers possibly reopening at the same time. |
| Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster wants its executive to discuss the reopening date for schools following Mr Johnson's announcement in England. | Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster wants its executive to discuss the reopening date for schools following Mr Johnson's announcement in England. |
| BBC HEADROOM: Your mental health toolkit - Mindful tips, mood mixes and motivation | BBC HEADROOM: Your mental health toolkit - Mindful tips, mood mixes and motivation |
| 'I WANT PEOPLE TO TALK': West Ham Women captain opens up on mental health | 'I WANT PEOPLE TO TALK': West Ham Women captain opens up on mental health |