On Wednesday, Doug Ford announced that COVID-19 vaccine certificates will officially be coming to Ontario as of September 22.
We asked you on Instagram what you wanted to know about this new certificate policy and have answered your questions below.
What do I need to use a vaccine certificate for?
The government announced that there is a list of businesses that will require residents to show proof of vaccination before entering.
These include spots like indoor restaurants, movie theatres, concerts, gyms, casinos, and more.
However, other locations like grocery stores, outdoor dining and medical facilities will not require proof of vaccination at this time.
How do I receive my certificate?
Starting on September 22, anyone who has been fully vaccinated for up to 14 days will need to show a vaccine receipt as well as a piece of photo ID (such as a health card or a driver's licence).
Residents are able to access their proof of vaccination through the provincial booking portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Booking Line at 1-833-943-3900. Here, they will be able to either download or print their vaccine receipt.
However, the government is also set to release an app and enhanced vaccine certificate by October 22. Residents will be able to show a QR code on their phones as proof of vaccination.
It is important to note that those who are 11 or younger, or those who have a medical exemption will not require a certificate to enter at-risk businesses.
Are medical exemptions requiring proof?
According to the Ontario government, anyone who is not able to get a COVID-19 vaccine due to any medical exemptions will require proof.
Currently, the government is asking that these residents are able to provide a doctor's note. Once the app is created, medical exemptions will be integrated into the digital vaccine certificate.
How do I prove I'm vaccinated if I'm not from Ontario?
Anyone who is visiting Ontario from outside of the province will still be required to show proof that they are fully vaccinated.
According to the government, "Ontario will develop and provide additional tools to improve user experience, efficiency, and business supports in the coming weeks, including ensuring verification of fully vaccinated individuals from outside of province or country."
What does this mean for weddings?
Residents looking to attend weddings and funerals this fall should be fully vaccinated. However, the Ontario government has also stated that between September 22 to October 12 residents can provide a negative rapid antigen COVID-19 test.
"For the period between September 22nd and October 12th, 2021, people attending indoor wedding and funeral receptions at indoor 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 the vaccine certificate showing they are fully vaccinated. These rapid antigen tests must be privately purchased." read a statement from the government's website.
Does this mean capacity limits will increase?
The Ontario government will not be expanding capacity limits at this time in an attempt to help avoid future lockdowns.
"To avoid future lockdowns and protect hospitals, Ontario is maintaining this cautious approach. This includes not expanding capacity limits in any setting at this time," read a release.
"As we monitor the impact of opening schools and the growing number of people returning to workplaces, we will evaluate when it may be safe to consider expanding capacity limits in settings that are captured by the new vaccine certificate policy."
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