Nightclubs and large-scale events in Wales will soon require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test within the last 48 hours for entry.
The new regulations will come into effect from October 11, and will be made possible through use of the NHS COVID Pass app for smartphones. The pass will be required for clubs, indoor non-seated events with a capacity of more than 500 people, and outdoor non-seated events with a capacity of more than 4,000 people. It will also be used for any event that hosts more than 10,000 people.
The pass is available to people aged over 16, and will be compulsory for those aged 18 and over. The introduction of their use comes amid a rise in cases of COVID-19, as well as deaths related to the virus. As of September 19, Wales was reporting a seven-day average of 2,394 new cases of coronavirus a day.
"The very strong advice we have from our scientific advisers is to take early action to prevent infections from increasing further," said Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales. "The last thing we want is further lockdowns and for businesses to have to close their doors once again. That’s why we must take small but meaningful action now to control the spread of the virus and reduce the need for tougher measures later."
The move follows on from Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, announcing earlier this month that people will soon require vaccine passports to enter clubs and large events. The UK government, on the other hand, recently U-turned on similar plans for clubs in England, though has maintained that such a measure may be required in the coming months should new cases of COVID-19 continue to rise.
