England to scrap Covid entry requirements for clubs next week

The Prime Minister has announced that Covid entry requirements for clubs will be scrapped from next week. 

Vaccine certificates showing proof of a Covid vaccination, or a negative lateral flow test result, will no longer be needed for entry to events from 26th January. 

The so-called Covid passports were introduced as part of the Government’s Plan B measures on 8th December to curb rising Covid cases due to the spread of the Omicron variant. The entry requirements applied to all unseated indoor venues with a capacity of at least 500 people and unseated outdoor venues that hold more than 4,000 people.

Nightclubs across the country are likely to welcome the lifting of restrictions which are thought to have had a devastating impact on the night-time economy. In October, when similar measures were in place in Scotland, The Scotsman reported a 46% drop in attendance at some venues, with others registering a 60% decline. 

Boris Johnson’s announcement also confirmed that all other Plan B measures that were introduced to combat Omicron, including work from home guidance and compulsory mask-wearing on public transport and in shops, will also come to an end. 

Mandatory self-isolation for people with Covid-19 is also set to end on 24th March,  a date which could be brought forward. 

This week it was confirmed that nightclubs are set to reopen in Scotland on 24th January. 

Elsewhere, clubs in France are still closed until further notice due to the surge of Covid-19 cases.