In news that will impact moviegoers and concert attendees, the Ontario government is reportedly extending its vaccine passport beyond the previously planned end date of January 17.
Although the government hasn't yet made a formal announcement, Global News and The Globe and Mail both cite sources saying that the vaccine passport system will continue indefinitely.
Additionally, the province will reportedly begin requiring that people use the vaccine passport's QR code, rather than simply presenting the vaccination receipt. The date for the QR code mandate has not been confirmed just yet.
Earlier this week, Ontario Minister of Health Christine Elliott was asked whether the vaccine passport would be extended. She said on Monday (December 6), "We anticipate we will need it for at least another several months if everything is alright, maybe for longer than that once we know more about the Omicron variant."
Proof of vaccination is required in many indoor spaces in Ontario, including restaurants, bars, concert venues and movie theatres.
Back in October, when Premier Doug Ford announced that bars, nightclubs and venues would be returning to full capacity, he also said that vaccine requirements were scheduled to be lifted on January 17. At that time, he said that those plans were subject to change if COVID-19 cases rose or if a new variant emerged — things that have since happened.
He also said that mask mandates were scheduled to lift on March 28, 2022. There's currently no word as to whether that will be going ahead.
Although the government hasn't yet made a formal announcement, Global News and The Globe and Mail both cite sources saying that the vaccine passport system will continue indefinitely.
Additionally, the province will reportedly begin requiring that people use the vaccine passport's QR code, rather than simply presenting the vaccination receipt. The date for the QR code mandate has not been confirmed just yet.
Earlier this week, Ontario Minister of Health Christine Elliott was asked whether the vaccine passport would be extended. She said on Monday (December 6), "We anticipate we will need it for at least another several months if everything is alright, maybe for longer than that once we know more about the Omicron variant."
Proof of vaccination is required in many indoor spaces in Ontario, including restaurants, bars, concert venues and movie theatres.
Back in October, when Premier Doug Ford announced that bars, nightclubs and venues would be returning to full capacity, he also said that vaccine requirements were scheduled to be lifted on January 17. At that time, he said that those plans were subject to change if COVID-19 cases rose or if a new variant emerged — things that have since happened.
He also said that mask mandates were scheduled to lift on March 28, 2022. There's currently no word as to whether that will be going ahead.
