Face masks to be jettisoned at pilot events for return of crowds

Face masks will not be used at a series of large-scale pilot events in the coming weeks as ministers plan for the return of mass gatherings without Covid rules.

Trials that involve suspending combinations of restrictions including face coverings and social distancing will take place at up to 15 pilots before the end of May.

The moves will be offset by a requirement for all event attendees to show a negative Covid test, but the Government confirmed on Friday that it will not be trailing the use of vaccine passports in the pilots. Proposals to introduce vaccine certification have faced fierce criticism from a number of MPs.

The aim of the large-scale pilot events is to "test what works best to achieve the aim of returning greater numbers of fans back to indoor and outdoor venues", the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said in fresh guidance online.

Data from the events will help ministers calculate how social distancing can be phased out as part of step four of Boris Johnson's roadmap out of restrictions. This final phase is due to start from June 21 at the earliest.

The first phase of pilots begins this weekend, with an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday, although face masks will be required at this match. Other events, which will see up to several thousand attend, include the World Snooker Championship at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, beginning on Saturday, as well as the FA Cup and League Cup finals, both at Wembley in future weeks.

A range of venues in Liverpool – the Luna Cinema, the ACC Business Event and the Circus nightclub – are also part of the pilot programme. Between them, the events will test a range of audience capacities, venue layouts, including sitting and standing formations, and indoor and outdoor environments.

Attendees will be required to take a lateral flow test and achieve a negative result ahead of the event. They will also be asked to take a PCR test before the event and within five days afterwards to inform research and ensure any transmission of the virus is properly monitored. If an attendee tests positive after an event, they must self-isolate.

People who are clinically extremely vulnerable, pregnant women and children under 18 are advised against attending the pilot events. The use of private transport to venues is encouraged where possible, while sales of wine, beer and spirits may be curbed if the local council has concerns that alcohol may fuel behaviour that threatens public health.

From step three of the roadmap, which will start from May 17 at the earliest, venues will be able to welcome back socially-distanced attendees up to a cap of 10,000 people in the biggest stadiums. Oliver Dowden, the Culture Secretary, said last month: "The next stage is going beyond that on June 21 to get even more people in."

DCMS said: "There will be no requirement for participants to show proof of vaccine. Participants in the ERP [Events Research Programme] pilots published to date will have to provide a basic Covid certification that they have tested negative for Covid-19."

The guidance said some settings and layouts, such as Wembley, will be used more than once in order to increase the sample size.