1/ I've been leaked details of a call between industry and Government today on Covid passports. In short: plan to have them ready to go May 17 for border reopening. Quick thread.... https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/04/21/covid-passports-proving-vaccine-status-released-summer-holidays/

2/ The call was for members of the Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group. Held this afternoon. Updating travel sector on reopening plans.

3/ Critical piece of info is that the Government is planning to have an official Covid certification scheme in place for when the ban on overseas holidays lifts. That is planned (at earliest) to be May 17.

4/ It is understood on the call a Government official said: “We aim to give people the ability to prove their vaccine status by the time international travel restarts where other countries require it. The earliest that will restart is May 17.”

5/ That is per an industry source familiar with call. A second confirmed the broad accuracy of the comment. Two Trade Dep sources did not dispute accuracy.

6/ The Covid passport - or in other words, the proof of Covid jab - will be either a physical or digital document. Critically it would be certified by the UK Government.

7/ It would allow people to show they have been jabbed in the more than 20 countries that have indicated they could ask for such proof before allowing access.

8/ Government is hoping to lift the ban on overseas holidays on May 17, though they will not 100% lock this in / take final decision until likely early May. Dependent on Covid case data between now and then.

9/ This Covid certificate scheme would be for outbound travel. (A wider system agreed by many countries is still a fair way off happening). It is seen as a key step to saving summer holidays.

10/ Wider moves to turn an NHS app into a Covid status certificate unlikely to be ready by May 17. (Discussions on domestic Covid checks also won't come to a head from time. No rule change until June 21 at earliest)

11/ But in short: We could see people using an official document showing proof of a Covid jab to go on overseas holidays as early as next month. (end)