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.
Individuals who cannot receive the vaccine due to medical exemptions will be permitted entry with a doctor’s note until recognized medical exemptions can be integrated as part of a digital vaccine certificate.
Children who are 11 years of age and younger and unable to be vaccinated will also be exempted from these requirements.
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required for:
- 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.
For the period between September 22 and October 12, 2021, it is intended that people attending wedding or funeral receptions at meeting or event spaces will be able to provide a negative rapid antigen COVID-19 test from no more than 48 hours before the event as an alternative to proof of vaccination. These rapid antigen tests would have to be privately purchased.
The news was shared at a press conference this afternoon (Sept. 1st, 2021).
In October a digital version for proof of vaccination will become available.
The province also plans to launch a new app to make it easier for businesses to verify your proof of vaccination.
Ontarians who received their first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine out of province should contact their local public health unit to record their information and receive proper documentation.
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.