THE stage is set for a glorious return to music festivals and vaccine passport-free trips to the pub in a double summer boost for Brits.
Boris Johnson is understood to back plans to use “Covid Status Certificates” for ticketed events such as gigs and sports but not trips to bars and restaurants.
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Ministers are looking at adapting the NHS Covid-19 app to show jab status and test results — with encryption to keep data secure and facial recognition to prevent cheating.
A Whitehall source said: “It’s as much about where vaccine passports shouldn’t be used as where they should.
“The PM is keen to make sure they are only necessary for big ticket events and not in small local businesses.
“Many in government feel very uncomfortable about punters being asked to show their papers to enter a pub.”
Organisers of the August Bank Holiday Reading and Leeds Festival decided yesterday it could take place — quickly leading to its website crashing — after studying the PM’s plans to leave lockdown.
Under the proposals, limits on social contact in England could be gone by June 21.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said yesterday he would work hard to ensure younger people, who will not be vaccinated against Covid, will not miss out on events.
The father of two said: “I think from a dad’s point, I’m very desperate to make sure they’re able to enjoy the benefits of opening up society.
“I’m absolutely sure we’re not going to be disadvantaging our young people.”
Whitehall is concerned that jab passports might be seen as “facilitating discrimination” in minority communities where jab uptake is lower.
The documents are likely to be needed for foreign travel.
Greece and the Balearics have suggested jabbed Brits may be allowed from May.
