Britain is to trial a system of “COVID status certification” at events including football matches in the coming weeks as a possible way out of virus restrictions, the government said late on Saturday.

The Downing Street statement confirmed that Britain plans to issue identification showing whether people are vaccinated, have antibodies or have tested negative, despite opposition from lawmakers in Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s own party. The government is to announce on Monday that the system will be tested at events from mid-April including the FA Cup Semi-Final and Final at Wembley Stadium, the statement said. It quoted Johnson as saying the government was doing all it could “so people can return to the events, travel and other things they love as safely as possible”.