The use of Covid passports and certificates is a complicated issue for the government

Editorial: With luck, the coronavirus will be a risk that the country learns to manage

Millions of people have been given at least one dose of the vaccine in the UK (Getty)

The idea behind the stern-sounding vaccination and testing certificates is that they would allow people to demonstrate their Covid-free status. But the introduction of these documents – the subject of a government review – is a complicated issue. There are advantages, but such measures also involve real ethical questions.

People have a right to be foolish, but they do not have the right to put the lives of others in jeopardy. As England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, has indignantly pointed out, surgeons are not allowed to operate on patients without a vaccination for hepatitis, something that few would argue with.

For the leisure trade, from bistros to gyms to Wembley Stadium, it seems reasonable to ask visitors if they pose a risk to others. Much the same goes for public transport, and for international travel a Covid vaccination certificate may turn out to be a routine requirement.