Club night drops NHS Covid pass requirement

A leading club night organiser has dropped a requirement for customers to show an NHS Covid pass on the door.

Ultimate Power initially told people they needed an NHS Covid pass to prove their vaccination, test or immunity status at venues.

The passes are on England's NHS app, which is separate from the NHS Covid-19 app in England and Wales.

But the promoter amended its website to say people can prove their Covid status in several ways, including by email.

A spokesman for Ultimate Power said that it would not require use of the app exclusively and would accept other forms of Covid status proof. He added that the app was "simply the easiest form of presenting this status" and that the only intention had been to ensure the safety of their customers.

The Liberal Democrats have called for ministers to scrap Covid passes or at least allow MPs to debate them in Parliament.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael accused ministers of committing to Covid passports "by stealth".

"We now have a new ID card snuck onto our phones without even as much as a whisper from the government," he said.

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After the BBC reported the entry requirement on Thursday night, Ultimate Power - a third-party which organises club nights at venues including the O2 Ritz in Manchester and London's Electric Ballroom - deleted a webpage and social media posts.

It had said that, for its "initial London and Manchester events, we are requesting Covid passes at point of entry to our clubs".

A spokeswoman for the O2 Ritz said the venue requires customers to show their Covid status on entry - but they could do this by obtaining a negative lateral flow result by text message, email, or letter.

Customers can also voluntarily use the NHS Covid Pass to prove a negative test, alongside full vaccination or immunity, the venue's website said.

Similar entry requirements will apply to guests at the Electric Ballroom.

It comes after some nightclub owners previously told the BBC Covid passes were "unworkable" and that they would not be requiring them.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced earlier this month that people attending nightclubs and other large venues where crowds gather would be required to be fully vaccinated from the end of September.

A "domestic" pass option on England's NHS app explains there are four ways to get an NHS Covid pass - through "testing, full vaccination, natural immunity, or an exemption".

It says: "You may need to show you NHS Covid Pass at places that have chosen to use the service." People can also request a paper pass to prove their vaccination status.

The wording on the NHS Covid app was changed on Monday after trials of the domestic pass for events ended, the Department of Health confirmed.

Other updates made this week include linking the pass to Apple Wallet and allowing those who took part in the trial of the Novavax vaccine to obtain a pass.

Differing approaches to vaccination status are emerging across the UK, amid legal, privacy and discrimination concerns.

In Scotland, Deputy First Minister John Swinney has said barring people who refuse a coronavirus vaccination from certain large events is the wrong approach.

In England, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove warned those who refuse to take a vaccine may be unable to access mass attendance venues such as football stadia or nightclubs.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said the government was in favour of making Covid passes compulsory in more settings.

Test or jab

To access their NHS Covid pass, users must first link their NHS number with other personal information to verify their identity.

According to the terms of the service, a domestic NHS Covid pass allows a person to demonstrate their Covid-19 lateral flow, PCR test or vaccine status for events or "other domestic uses which the government may approve from time to time".

The terms add that the service is not intended to be used by employers to check their staff have been vaccinated.

It also allows an exemption to apply, for example, when a person has taken part in an official trial for a Covid vaccine that has yet to receive approval.

A travel NHS Covid pass allows a person to demonstrate their vaccination status for international travel.

The option for a domestic NHS Covid pass will allow users to prove their jab or test status at venues in England

The NHS app is described as being "a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smart phone or tablet".

It is available to people aged 13 and over who are registered with a GP service and can be accessed on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, as well as on desktop devices.

Other functions on the app include appointments, prescriptions as well as allowing users to access an overview of their medical history and records held by their GP.

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "Businesses, events and venues have been encouraged to use the Covid pass to help reduce transmission of Covid-19."