Toronto, ON — Summer is over, which means back to school, back to work, and back to indoor activities. In an effort to fight off a fourth wave, the Ontario government will be requiring proof of vaccinations in select settings, starting Sept. 22. The latest announcement focuses on higher-risk indoor public settings, where face coverings cannot always be worn.
“Based on the latest evidence and best advice, COVID-19 vaccine certificates give us the best chance to slow the spread of this virus while helping us to avoid further lockdowns,” said Doug Ford, premier of Ontario in a press release. “If you haven’t received your first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, please do so today.”
Ontarians will need to be fully vaccinated and provide their proof of vaccination along with photo ID to access certain public settings and facilities. An individual is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the second dose.
For the mechanical trades, this won’t have direct implementations; however, for those participating in meetings or events in places such as banquet halls and conference/convention centres, the proof of vaccination will be applicable to these locations.
Additionally, restaurants and bars (excluding outdoor patios, as well as delivery and takeout), nightclubs (including outdoor areas of the establishment), 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, and racing venues will all be required to provide proof of vaccination.
These requirements will not apply to settings where people receive medical care, food from grocery stores, nor medical supplies. Indoor masking policies will continue to remain in place.
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 exempt from these requirements.
Proof of vaccination can be accessed through a paper or PDF receipt. A digital vaccine receipt, that features a QR code, will be available at a later date.