UK drops plan for vaccine passports, lockdowns across England as virus rates climb

The UK government has announced it is unlikely England will ever return to lockdown despite rising cases in the country.

The UK government has announced it is unlikely England will ever return to lockdown despite rising cases in the country.

It also dropped a plan to make people in England show vaccine passports to enter crowded events such as nightclubs, the health minister said, claiming he “never liked the idea”.

The UK has one of the highest Covid-19 death tolls in the world with cases climbing in recent months after easing restrictions in July.

Now, nine in 10 local areas in the UK have seen a “week-on-week rise in Covid-19 cases”, according to The Guardian.

On Saturday, 29,547 new cases and 156 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were reported across the UK.

"Of course we get Christmas," says Health Secretary Sajid Javid on lockdown restrictions this winter

"I'm not anticipating any more lockdowns... I just don't see how we get to another lockdown"
https://t.co/xXjU11v4Qw#Marrpic.twitter.com/6xPkScqmHS

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) September 12, 2021

Despite this, Health Minister Sajid Javid told the BBC’s Andrew Marr overnight that he was not “anticipating any more lockdowns”.

When quizzed on whether Brits will be able to celebrate Christmas, Javid said “of course”.

“I think it would be irresponsible for any health minister around the world to take every thing off the table but I just don't see how we get to another lockdown.”

"We shouldn't be doing things for the sake of it"

Health Secretary Sajid Javid says a scheme for vaccine passports for entry to nightclubs and large events in England will not be going ahead
https://t.co/0WkSrkrIAB#Marrpic.twitter.com/bhWRfdXISZ

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) September 12, 2021

The government had previously said vaccine passports would be introduced at the end of this month, despite opposition from businesses in the sector and from some Conservative MPs.

Javid announced the U-turn, saying the government does not view the move as necessary in the current virus situation, citing high vaccine uptake.

“We’ve looked at it properly and whilst we should keep it in reserve as a potential option I’m pleased to say that we will not be going ahead with plans for vaccine passports,” Javid told the BBC.

Many have criticised British Prime Minister Boris Johnson over his recent handling of the virus, including the UK’s Labour Party which branded the government as “shambolic”.

Some believe this is Mr Johnson’s attempt to “soothe” critics.

It comes as details of Australia’s vaccine passport trial were revealed last week amid a plan to get Sydneysiders back into pubs.

The passport would be available inside the Service NSW app, with Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello saying the idea would be for people to get their vaccine certificate from the federal government and pull it across to the Service NSW app.

A trial is expected for the first two weeks of October.

People walk past an amusement arcade in Blackpool, north west England. Picture: PAUL ELLIS / AFP

Social distancing signs are displayed on the floor as pupils return to school at Copley Academ in Stalybridge, England. Picture: Anthony Devlin/Getty Images

The UK has given two vaccine doses to more than 80 per cent of over-16s and is expected to announce shortly whether it will extend vaccination to those aged 12 to 15.

The health minister said that the idea of compulsory showing of documentation at leisure venues made him uncomfortable, as some opponents have called this a potential violation of civil liberties.

“I’ve never liked the idea of saying to people you must show your papers or something to do what is just an everyday activity,” Javid said.

People are seen relaxing in Covent Garden in London. Picture: Peter Summers/Getty Images

The abrupt change came after Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi told parliament last week that the plan was going ahead at the end of September, when all over-18s would have had time to receive both jabs.

Javid told Times Radio that a key deciding factor was that unlike some other countries that have introduced vaccine passports, England has “seen a steady increase in our rate of (vaccine) uptake”.

“People have talked about certification as a tool to increase vaccination. I’m not certain that we need to do that,” he added.

Meanwhile there were ugly scenes in the southern French city of Toulouse as those protesting a vaccine passport mandate clashed with masked people.

More than 120,000 people demonstrated across France on Saturday, according to official figures, to protest the coronavirus health passes they say discriminate against the unvaccinated.

Shoppers on Oxford street. Picture: Peter Summers/Getty Images

The announcement came after Scotland’s devolved government on Thursday approved the introduction of vaccine passports from next month for those attending nightclubs and music festivals.

Asked to comment on media reports that the government will also scrap travel restrictions including costly PCR tests before departure and on return from trips abroad, Javid told Sky News he wanted to do this “as soon as we possibly can”.

Javid confirmed the government will be announcing proposals to repeal certain emergency powers granted during the pandemic, including the ability to shut down businesses and schools.

“We don’t need them, we should get rid of them,” he told Times Radio.