Welsh First Minister admits new COVID Pass is ‘vulnerable to abuse’

People in Wales must show a National Health Service-issued COVID Pass or demonstrate their vaccination status to enter nightclubs and attend large events from Monday.

But Welsh leaders including First Minister Mark Drakeford have conceded that the system was “vulnerable to abuse.”

The new scheme would mean all over-18s need a pass to enter nightclubs, indoor non-seated events for more than 500 people such as concerts or conventions.

Outdoor non-seated events for more than 4,000 people and any setting or event had more than 10,000 people in attendance.

People would also be able to show they have had a negative lateral flow test result within the last 48 hours.

Those who faked a coronavirus test result or vaccination status would be committing a criminal offense and face a fixed penalty notice.

Mr Drakeford conceded that there was a “vulnerability” in the system.

He asked on Good Morning Britain about the possibility of people falsifying lateral flow test results, he said.

“This is a vulnerability in the scheme. We have created a specific offense which will mean that if someone deliberately falsifies the result of a lateral flow test they will be breaching the law in Wales.’’

President Buhari congratulates Wale Oke

He added that the new system would help clubs stay open during the winter months.

“If we see rising numbers of coronavirus in Wales and we have high numbers already in the community then the first places that will have to close will be the highest risk venues,’’ he said.

The legislation was passed in the Welsh parliament last week despite opposition from the Welsh Conservatives, the nationalist Plaid Cymru, and the Liberal Democrats.

Wales was facing some of the highest infection rates since the beginning of the pandemic, particularly among young people.