Britain considers issuing vaccination certificates | World

LONDON (AP) – Britain plans to test a series of measures including a “coronavirus status certificate” in the coming weeks to see if it allows people to safely return to mass rallies in sports arenas, nightclubs and concerts.

People attending a number of events this month and in May, including one at a nightclub and major FA Cup matches, will need to undergo diagnostic tests before and after attending. The trials will also gather evidence on how ventilation and different approaches to social distancing could allow for mass events in the future.

Authorities are also developing plans to test COVID-19 certificates that are expected to show whether a person has already been vaccinated, recently tested negative, or has some immunity due to contracting coronavirus in the past six months.

The issue of vaccination certificates has been a controversial topic around the world. The question is how much right governments, employers, headquarters and other places have to know the status of a person with respect to the coronavirus. Many disagree on what is the correct balance between a person’s right to medical privacy and the collective right of people in groups not to be infected by dangerous diseases that others might transmit.

Some detractors also say that such certificates would allow discrimination against poor people and nations that do not have immediate access to vaccines.

Authorities in Britain have said the certificates could involve the use of an app or paper certificates for those who do not have access to a digital option.

However, the British Minister of Sport, Nigel Huddleston, emphasized to reporters that the “first pilot programs would not involve any element of certification”, but rather diagnostic tests before and after the events. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to release more details on Monday.

“We are doing everything we can to make it easy to reopen our country so that people can get back to the events, travel and other things they love as safely as possible, and these reviews will play an important role in allowing this to happen. Johnson declared.

Dozens of British lawmakers, including some from Johnson’s Conservative Party, have spoken out against the plans.