More than 1,000 people who have been vaccinated or have a clear Covid-19 test could turn out for the Bermuda Day Show.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Culture said entry to the National Sports Centre event will be open to essential workers who have completed vaccination or have a negative coronavirus test.

She added that strict physical distancing rules will be “adjusted” — but the risk of the spread of Covid-19 will still be minimised.

A Government spokeswoman said the Ministry of National Security had given permission for up to 1,000 spectators to attend the event, along with 295 present as staff or performers. The event, which will feature music, dance and the traditional Gombeys, will also be broadcast.

The Bermuda Day show, organised by the culture department and taking the place of the normal parade through the streets of Hamilton, is scheduled to be held on Friday in the 4,200-capacity main stadium at the NSC.

The spokeswoman said: “The seating will allow sitting in alternating rows to provide distancing.

“The Bermuda Day Show will take place with all participants immunised or tested, which differentiates it from other applications.

“These measures, together with leveraging technology and mask-wearing, minimise the risk of Covid spread to a negligible level.”

The show was at first planned to entertain fully-vaccinated essential workers but was later extended to essential workers with clear tests.

David Burt, the Premier, announced last week that the Bermuda Day event was part of government’s Covid SafeKey pilot programme.

But Mr Burt insisted: “This is not a vaccine passport, as you do not need to get a vaccine in order to have access to the SafeKey or the events or activities that you will be able to access.”

The SafeKey scheme will allow people who have tested negative for the coronavirus or who have been vaccinated to eat inside at restaurants and attend large events.

It will provide eligible people with a printable form with a QR code that, along with another form of identification, would grant them access.

Britain hosted a music festival for 5,000 people in Liverpool at the start of May.

Ticket holders had to take a supervised lateral flow coronavirus test the day and could only attend if the result was clear.

They were also encouraged to take PCR tests on the day of the show and another five days later.

Matt Ashton, Liverpool’s public health boss told the BBC he was confident the event would not lead to an increase in coronavirus cases.

• UPDATE: this article has been amended to correct that the attendance at the Bermuda Day event will be 1,000 with an additional 295 present as staff or performers