COVID-19 Plan B Consultation

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement last month setting out the Government’s autumn and winter plan for tackling COVID-19 cases with a Plan A and Plan B approach, the Government has now published a call for evidence on the proposal for mandatory COVID certification in a Plan B scenario.

The full invitation is contained here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposal-for-mandatory-covid-certification-in-a-plan-b-scenario-call-for-evidence?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=f4152987-4566-43e5-802e-ca66f54408bf&utm_content=immediately

There is an additional document which contains more details as to the proposals and terms of implementation – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/proposal-for-mandatory-covid-certification-in-a-plan-b-scenario/proposal-for-mandatory-covid-certification-in-a-plan-b-scenario

Under Plan B, in certain settings:

• Mandatory vaccine-only certification could be introduced for all visitors aged 18 or over.
• Members of the workforce aged 18 or over in these settings could then be required to test regularly, if they are not fully vaccinated.

If introduced, the Government expects that mandatory vaccine-only certification would be introduced for the following venues and events:

• All nightclubs and other venues open after 1:00 am with alcohol, music and dancing.
• Indoor events with 500 or more attendees where those attendees are likely to stand and mix to a significant degree, or move around during the event, such as music venues or large receptions.
• Outdoor, crowded settings with 4,000 or more attendees where those attendees are likely to stand, or move around during the event, such as outdoor festivals.
• Any settings with 10,000 or more attendees, such as large sports and music stadiums

The Government hopes that it would not be necessary to mandate vaccine certification more widely than these settings, however, as the Autumn and Winter Plan outlines, this cannot be entirely ruled out.

There are some settings that would be exempt from requirements to use certification, including communal worship, wedding ceremonies, funerals and other commemorative events. Guidance on minimising risk in these settings will be provided. Free, un-ticketed outdoor events in public spaces, including street parties, protests and mass participation sporting events, would also be exempt.

The consultation closes at 11:45 pm on 11 October 2021.