Eric Clapton says he won’t play at venues which require fans to prove they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19

Musician Eric Clapton says he will not perform at venues that require patrons to prove they have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

His comments came after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said proof of full vaccination would be required to gain entry to nightclubs and other venues in England from September.

Clapton’s comments were the latest in a series of controversial COVID-related statements by the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, who has also teamed up with Van Morrison to release a song criticising lockdowns and the wearing of masks.

Here’s what we know.

What is the proof of vaccination requirement?
This week the UK government lifted nearly all coronavirus restrictions in England.

Masks are no longer compulsory, work from home guidance has been scrapped, social distancing measures have been shelved and there are no limits on the number of people who can attend theatre performances or big events.

The government says the successful vaccination program has driven the lifting of restrictions.

Catch up on the latest COVID-19 news here

To date, around 90 per cent of UK adults have received their first dose, and about 70 per cent are fully vaccinated, although the number of cases across the country has soared in recent weeks due to the Delta variant.

Authorities have flagged introducing legal requirements for mandatory proof of vaccination to gain entry to some venues from September, when most of the adult population is expected to be vaccinated.

To do this, residents in the UK will be able to use a digital certificate called the NHS COVID Pass which shows if they have received vaccine doses, a negative PCR test, or a positive PCR test within the previous six months