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Drinkers Could Have To Register Before They Go To The Pub After Lockdown

Drinkers Could Have To Register Before They Go To The Pub After Lockdown

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it hadn't been ruled out

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

Drinkers could have to register before being able to go to a pub, the UK government has confirmed.

As lockdown measures look to ease further in the coming weeks, Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed that punters could have to register some personal information in order to get to the bar.

Speaking on Sky News, he said it was being considered.

Hancock said: "Well I wouldn't rule that out. It isn't a decision that we've taken yet but there are other countries in the world that take that approach and there's a reason for it.

"And the reason the reason they do that is that if there is a positive case, and now there's only a few thousands positive cases a day rather than the many tens of thousands that there were at the peak, then you can go and trace the people that were at risk of being in contact.

Matt Hancock says the idea has been discussed.
PA

"That's the approach that's working through the test and trace process, and it's one that's being used in other countries as well."

This comes after it was revealed that beer gardens could be patrolled in order to make sure punters were keeping apart from one another.

During the interview, Mr Hancock went on to discuss further plans for the hospitality industry, assuring people that the government was on target.

He said: "We're on plan, we will of course be setting out more details of that plan and in the plan it states that on around July 4 we will take further measures if it's safe to do so.

"We talk about hospitality and outdoor hospitality in that plan but there are a whole series of other services especially where you need to be physically close to someone to carry it out like a haircut - a lot of the country does need a haircut."

It's been reported that pub gardens could be patrolled following lockdown.
PA

When asked whether salons and barbers would be reopening on 4 July, as hoped, Mr Hancock said it's being discussed.

He said: "I'm not going to rule that out. We'll set out the details as soon as we can.

"We're clearly on track for that plan because the number of cases coming down and the plan does refer to hospitality and some of the other things that are closed that so many people want to see open."

Last week, it was announced that new guidance was being considered by the UK government, with the Prime Minister said to be potentially scrapping the two-metre rule in the coming week.

Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden confirmed that the review ordered by Boris Johnson into the two-metre rule would be concluded "within the coming days".

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Coronavirus