England expected to introduce vaccine passports for nightclubs

Boris Johnson is expected to introduce Plan B strategy which includes working-from-home orders and vaccine passports.

Following the discovery of the Omicron variant, the government is considering a change in COVID restrictions for England this winter.

Plan B includes: legally mandated face coverings returning in some settings such as shops and public transport, work from home could be re-introduced, and the option of making COVID vaccine passports mandatory in certain scenarios, including nightclubs, bars and sports stadiums.

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Earlier this year, initial plans for vaccine passports were dropped in England.

Vaccine passports have been introduced in Scotland and Northern Ireland as a rule to enter nightclubs, adult entertainment venues and more.

The Scotsman reported the policy was "decimating" nightlife, with a survey of NTIA members conducted in late October indicating nightclub attendances declined by 46% after vaccine passports were introduced.

Read this next: Nightclubs in Portugal to close as COVID cases rise

Today the Prime Minster has faced questions over the leaked footage of a Christmas party held last year at Downing Street which took place whilst Tier 3 restrictions were in place.

The PM has apologised today for the party as he said he: "understands the anger" of people seeing Number 10 staff seeming to make light of lockdown measures.

"I was also furious to see that clip. I apologise unreservedly for the offence that it has caused up and down the country," the PM adds.

He reiterates that "there was no party", and that "I was told no COVID rules were broken".

Becky Buckle is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter