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The Reason Why You Shouldn't Share Your Covid Test On Social Media

Gregory Robinson

Published 
| Last updated 

The Reason Why You Shouldn't Share Your Covid Test On Social Media

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

A leading UK-based security platform has warned people against sharing their lateral flow coronavirus test results online after a rise in picture theft to get fake Covid passes.

In recent weeks, the government has tightened restrictions as a result of a rise in cases of the new Omicron variant. 

A security platform has reported a rise in picture theft of negative coronavirus tests (Credit: Alamy)
A security platform has reported a rise in picture theft of negative coronavirus tests (Credit: Alamy)

Security platform Get Licensed has reported an increase in the number of fake Covid passes distributed. Those caught with a fake pass could receive a £10,000 fine, Wales Online reports.

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Shahzad Ali, CEO at Get Licensed, said: “We have seen fake documentation for many years, for example, fake IDs have been a regular feature at nightclubs for a number of years.

Security platform Get Licensed has warned against sharing pictures of your coronavirus tests online (Credit: Alamy)
Security platform Get Licensed has warned against sharing pictures of your coronavirus tests online (Credit: Alamy)

"This is just a new complication that door supervisors will soon become used to facing. It was always inevitable that fake Covid passes would start to appear as soon as there were rumours of them being introduced.

"Whilst grossly unethical and potentially very dangerous, it is also illegal to use, supply [or] distribute fake Covid passes and could see you rack up a fine of £10,000 should you be caught.”

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Ali warned fake Covid passes could compromise the safety of venues such as nightclubs.

Emphasising the importance of not sharing your results online, Ali continued: “There is obviously going to be a market for Covid passes, because there will be people who want to go about their life like normal and not have to take Covid tests for things they didn’t have to before, so it is extremely important that you look after your Covid pass.

"Our advice would be to avoid posting it on social media, don’t share the code from the lateral flow you have taken because others could register it as their test.”

You could receive a fine for faking a coronavirus test result (Credit: Alamy)
You could receive a fine for faking a coronavirus test result (Credit: Alamy)
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This month new laws were introduced to help curb the spread of the virus by requiring venues in England to make it compulsory to have a covid pass for entry, either in the form of a negative Covid-19 test or proof of double vaccination.

The rules apply to venues open between 1am and 5am; indoor events with 500 or more unseated attendees; outdoor events with 4,000 or more unseated attendees and any events with 10,000 or more attendees indoor or outdoor, such as large sports and music events.

You can access your Covid-19 pass through the NHS App, NHS.UK, a letter obtained on NHS.UK or by calling 119.

Lateral flow tests are completed at home and can reveal if you are carrying the Covid virus within 30 minutes of completion with a high degree of reliability. 

Topics: Covid-19, Health, Coronavirus, News

Gregory Robinson
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