Government asks for views on COVID-19 certification

As set out last month in the Prime Minister’s COVID-19 Roadmap, the Government is looking at whether certification could help to reopen the economy, reduce restrictions on social contact and improve safety. 
 
COVID-19 status certification involves using testing or vaccination data to confirm in different settings that people have a lower risk of transmitting COVID-19 to others. 
 
The review - which is being led by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster - is considering the ethical, equalities, privacy, legal and operational aspects of a possible certification scheme, and what limits, if any, should be placed on organisations using certification. 
 
The Government has published a call for evidence to ensure that the review considers a broad range of interests and concerns. 
 
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove said: "This review into COVID-status certification is an important part of our plan to help reopen the country and return to normal. However, we recognise that there are complex issues of ethics, privacy and inclusion that need to be fully considered. That is why I want to get as many views as possible on COVID-status certification and its potential implications to help inform the review."
 
The Government has committed to concluding its review into COVID-status certification ahead of Step Four of the four-stage lockdown easing plan, which will happen no earlier than 21 June.
 
The Government has also published the Terms of Reference for the COVID-status certification review. The Terms of Reference document will set out, in broad terms, the objectives and scope of the review, and also the timetable for reporting.

The call for evidence is open for two weeks from Monday 15 March to Monday 29 March.

The Terms of Reference for the Covid-status certification review is available here.