People hoping to go to pubs and restaurants when they reopen for outdoor service on 12 April will have to check in using the NHS Covid app, in a new update to regulations.
Previously, only one member from each party would have to provide details to check in to a venue, but now the government has said everyone within a group must do so.
In a press release today, the government outlined a plan for free, twice-weekly rapid testing to become available to everyone in England.
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To coincide with this, there are also planned updates to the NHS Covid-19 app in England, which will come into effect from 8 April.
The press release explains: "In line with new regulations, when a group enters a hospitality venue, every individual must check either by scanning the official NHS QR code poster with the NHS COVID-19 app, or by providing their contact details.
"Previously, only the lead member of the group needed to provide contact details to check in."
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It continues to explain that, if an app user tests positive, they will be asked to share their venue history in a 'privacy-protecting way via the app', which will 'allow venue alerts to be generated more quickly, and improve the ability to identify where outbreaks are occurring and take steps to prevent the virus spreading'.
On additional venue alerts, the government says: "If a person has been at a venue on the same day as several other people who have since tested positive for COVID-19, they may receive an alert advising them to book a test immediately, whether they are showing symptoms or not.
"This is to support finding asymptomatic cases who may have caught the virus but are not displaying symptoms."
There will also be new posters displaying QR codes for hospitality venues in England, which will be 'clearer and easier to use'.
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All venues in England are legally required to display an official NHS QR code poster.
Six people or two separate households can meet outdoors under the rules.
As for the rapid testing, everyone in England will be able to take a free test twice a week, including those without symptoms.
These will be available from 9 April, with the government referring to the rollout as a 'significant step forward'.
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "Massive efforts have been made by the British public to stop the spread of the virus.
"As we continue to make good progress on our vaccine programme and with our roadmap to cautiously easing restrictions underway, regular rapid testing is even more important to make sure those efforts are not wasted.
"That's why we're now rolling out free rapid tests to everyone across England - helping us to stop outbreaks in their tracks, so we can get back to seeing the people we love and doing the things we enjoy."
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Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: UK News, News, Pubs, Coronavirus