COVID Pass for events and nightclubs in Wales start from today

People in Wales must show a Covid Pass or demonstrate their Covid status to enter nightclubs and attend large events from today (11^th October).

Businesses could be fined up to £10,000 and issued closure notices for non-compliance. Fines could also be issued for people faking test results or vaccine status.

Cases of coronavirus continue to be high across Wales, especially among younger adults the Welsh Government have warned.

The new law starting today mandates that all adults over-18 will need to show an NHS Covid Pass or a negative Covid test to enter certain premises:

• Nightclubs and similar venues;
• Indoor, non-seated events for more than 500 people;
• Outdoor non-seated events for more than 4,000 people;
• Any setting or event with more than 10,000 people in attendance.

The controversial law passed by just one vote, after Welsh Conservative minister Gareth Davies, who was attending the party’s conference in Manchester, couldn’t log onto Zoom to vote against the proposal.

Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething said: “Our fantastic vaccination programme continues to go from strength to strength but the pandemic is not over. Cases of remain high across Wales and, unfortunately, families across the country are losing loved ones to this awful virus.

“The clear advice from our scientific advisers is that we need to take early action now.

“The Covid Pass is just one of a series of measures in place to help prevent people spreading and catching coronavirus while helping to keep the economy open. None of us want to see further lockdowns and for businesses to have to close their doors once again.

“Showing a Covid Pass is already part of our collective effort to keep businesses open, with some major events, such as the successful Green Man Festival, using it.

“Together, if we all continue to follow the clear guidelines we’re all used to by now, we’ll be doing everything we can to Keep Wales Safe.”

People who are fully vaccinated in Wales can already download the NHS Covid Pass to securely show and share their vaccine status. It also allows people to show they have had a negative lateral flow test result within the last 48 hours.

Only people attending these venues and events will need to show their Covid status. Staff working or volunteering in these venues are encouraged to take lateral flow tests twice a week to check they do not have the virus. Workplaces are required by law to undertake Covid risk assessments, and to put reasonable measures in place to ensure staff safety.

The Welsh Government say that Covid passes have been used successfully in many venues and events in Wales throughout the summer.

The First Minister confirmed last week that Wales will remain at alert level zero for the next three weeks. Plans are in place to respond to a challenging winter ahead with both coronavirus and seasonal flu both in circulation.

Welsh Government Ministers are continuing to encourage people to take steps to reduce the spread of the virus by continuing to work from home whenever possible, ensuring they take up the offer of a Covid vaccine, keeping your distance, isolating and taking a PCR test if you have symptoms, and wearing a face covering in indoor public places and on public transport.

The Welsh Government say they will use the current enforcement regimes for monitoring compliance – this means businesses and events will need to ensure their proposed arrangements to comply with the Covid pass regulations are included in their risk assessments, and reasonable measures to ensure compliance.

Penalties for non-compliance will include:

• a premises improvement notice or premises closure notice;
• a fixed penalty notice and a maximum fine for businesses of £10,000.

In addition, it is now an offence for a person to provide false or misleading evidence of vaccination or testing status where that evidence is required as part of the requirement for holding a Covid pass.

(Lead image: Mark Angelo Sampan / Pexels.com)