One of the most controversial aspects of the government’s COVID ‘plan B’ is the requirement for some venues to carry out testing and vaccine certificate checks.

Up to 75 Conservative MPs could rebel against the proposals, which will be voted on in the House of Commons on Tuesday afternoon.

What is the aim of the new rules?

According to the explanatory note of the legislation, the purpose is “to impose obligations on those organising certain events, or managing certain venues, to take reasonable measures to ensure that they do not admit any person to such events, or venues, unless the person concerned has been fully vaccinated or has tested negative for coronavirus within the last 48 hours”.

The regulations will only apply in England.

When will the new rules come into effect?

If approved by MPs, the provisions in the regulations will come into effect at 6am on Wednesday.

COVID-19: UK ‘again in race between vaccine and virus’ – as Javid reveals ‘about 10’ people in hospital with Omicron

COVID-19: PM says he ‘certainly broke no rules’ as pressure over Downing Street parties mounts

COVID-19: PM facing major revolt over coronavirus curbs, amid ‘authoritarianism’ warning

What will venues be expected to do?

Venues will be expected to check if a person has either received a negative test no more than 48 hours before the event, or completed “a course of two doses of authorised vaccine” – with the second dose received at least two weeks before the event.

If the person is participating, or has participated in a clinical trial of a coronavirus vaccine, or for clinical reasons cannot be vaccinated, they will be exempt.

Venues will be able to apply to their local authority to request specific exemptions against checking every person if they believe doing so could endanger the safety of any person attending. For example, if checkpoints cannot be set up far enough away from entrances to avoid large crowds building up.

The manager of the venue will be expected to produce, and keep updated, a statement setting out the measures they intend to take to meet the obligations and how they will be implemented.

What proof will they need to see?

For proof of a negative test, the following documents would be eligible:

For proof of vaccination status, the following documents would be eligible:

Which venues will be required to check for a recent negative test or vaccination status?

Are there any exemptions for those venues?

Any other exemptions?

Yes, as long as there is no entry charge or ticketing, venues are not required to check for negative tests or vaccination status is they are hosting the following events:

How will it be enforced?

Local authority officers will be designated by local authorities. They will have the powers to enter any premises at reasonable hours to carry out inspections if they believe there has been a breach of the regulations.

They will be able to issue either Coronavirus Improvement Notices, which act as a warning that changes need to be made by a certain point in time, or Restriction Notices and Immediate Restriction Notices, which requires either the immediate closure of the premises, or an immediate change to be made. Fixed penalty notices of up to £10,000 can be issued for repeat offenders.

Any notice issued can be appealed at the Magistrates’ Court.

Will you need a booster jab to have an eligible COVID vaccine certificate?

Not initially. The wording of the regulations that MPs are being asked to improve say that a person will be deemed to have completed a course of doses of authorised vaccines if they have “received at least 2 doses of any of the [approved] vaccines” or “received a does of one authorised vaccine and a dose of a different authorised vaccine.”

However, in a statement to parliament, Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs: “Once all adults have had a reasonable chance to get their booster jab, we intend to change this exemption to require a booster dose”.

Do you need to self-isolate if you come into close contact with someone who has COVID?

Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs: “From tomorrow [Tuesday] fully vaccinated contacts of a COVID-19 case will now be able to take a daily lateral flow test instead of self-isolating. This is a vital way to minimise the disruption to people’s daily lives and to avoid the so-called pingdemic.”

Are there enough lateral flow tests?

The government has sought to play down suggestions there is a shortage of lateral flow tests.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs: “I can assure this house that the UK has sufficient lateral flow tests to see us through the coming weeks. If anyone finds they are unable to get a kit online they should check the website the following down, or they could pop down to their local pharmacy and pick up a kit”

However, there were widespread reports on Tuesday evening of people experiencing difficulties ordering online, and pharmacies running low on stock.

Related posts:

House of Lords Speaker to step down early to campaign on HIV/Aids and LGBT rights ‘Unhelpful and redundant’: Boris Johnson told to ‘scrap use of BAME label’ UK has no plans for investigation into UFOs after Pentagon report A night of high drama: Relief for Starmer as his prayers are answered in Batley and Spen Merkel tells PM number of fans at Wembley for Euro 2020 seems ‘a bit too much’ Red boxes and nappies: The babies who had No 10 as their first home Chancellor writes letter to the PM calling for relaxation of travel rules, reports say Iran’s ambassador summoned to Foreign Office following oil tanker drone attack UK needs to engage with Taliban given ‘new reality in Afghanistan’, says Raab Man arrested after climbing fence into Houses of Parliament ‘Don’t cancel Xmas parties’ says Number 10 after ministers’ mixed messages Labour’s main union backer to make further cut to party’s funding under Sir Keir Starmer