UK considers Covid-19 certificates for travellers and ‘freedom passes’

Passport producers could provide biometric forms to show people are fit to travel

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to make new Covid-19 announcements on Monday. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)

The UK is considering asking companies that make passports to provide special travel certificates to show that people are Covid-free.

The move could help boost the travel sector, which has been hit hard by worldwide pandemic restrictions.

The certificates, which would be issued to people who have taken Covid-19 tests and are not infected, could also include biometric data.

It is understood companies, including De La Rue, are in discussions with the UK government

The talks are at an early stage and may come to nothing, according to The Telegraph.

In another move, the UK is looking at "freedom passes", which would be issued to people provided they have had two negative coronavirus tests in a week.

Under the scheme, people could be given the passes as long as they can show they have been regularly tested, and they would then be given a card or document to show they are allowed to move around freely.

The move would aim to ease the country back to normality while its mass vaccination scheme gets under way.

"They [the passes] will allow someone to wander down the streets, and if someone else asks why they are not wearing a mask, they can show the card, letter or an App," The Telegraph quoted a source as saying.

They would allow people "to see their family, and normal social distancing rules will not apply", the source said.

In April, the World Health Organisation advised against issuing immunity passes because of concerns their accuracy could not be guaranteed and could increase the risk of spreading the virus.