Premier Doug Ford has announced that COVID-19 vaccine passports are coming to Ontario.
As of September 22, 2021, Ontarians will need to be fully vaccinated (two doses plus 14 days) and provide their proof of vaccination along with photo ID to access certain public settings and facilities. This approach focuses on higher-risk indoor public settings where face coverings cannot always be worn and includes:
- Restaurants and bars (excluding outdoor patios, as well as delivery and takeout);
- Nightclubs (including outdoor areas of the establishment);
- Meeting and event spaces, such as banquet halls and conference/convention centres;
- Facilities used for sports and fitness activities and personal fitness training, such as gyms, fitness and recreational facilities with the exception of youth recreational sport;
- Sporting events;
- Casinos, bingo halls and gaming establishments;
- Concerts, music festivals, theatres and cinemas;
- Strip clubs, bathhouses and sex clubs;
- Racing venues (e.g., horse racing).
These mandatory requirements would not apply to outdoor settings with the exception of outdoor nightclub spaces.
In addition, these requirements will not apply to settings where people receive medical care, food from grocery stores, medical supplies and the like.
The news was shared at a press conference this afternoon (Sept. 1st, 2021).
In Ontario, over 20.7-million doses of a COVID-19 have been administered with nearly 83.1% of the population over the age of 12 having received one dose and 76.4% with two doses.
