Music Venues won't require COVID tests or vaccine passports when restrictions lift next month

30 June 2021, 16:46 | Written by Cerys Kenneally

(News)

It's been reported COVID testing and vaccine passports for music venues and nightclubs will be scrapped for the lockdown exit date set for 19 July.

On 19 July, the UK government plans to lift current COVID restrictions in England, including social distancing measures, meaning music venues and nightclubs will be able to get back to full capacity events for the first time since March 2020.

Following the success of recent live events held as part of the government's Events Research Programme, as well as the vaccination programme, Evening Standard reports that people will not need to get a COVID test or show a vaccine passport at music venues or nightclubs when they reopen.

According to the piece, Cabinet minister Michael Gove has reportedly said that testing and the vaccine passports would be "too much hassle". A government source added, "We are increasingly confident that people are protected and the plan is to reopen everything, with no exceptions."

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said, "If you are in a late-night London pub and thinking of going on to the club around the corner, there’s a good chance that having to take a test would make you question whether to bother."

Yesterday (29 June), a new late-night London festival called 0:01 was announnced, which aims to take place the moment COVID restrictions are lifted in England on 19 July.