N.L.'s vaccine passport rolls out Friday. Here's how it works

The Newfoundland and Labrador government has unveiled details of itsvaccine passport programa day ahead of itsFriday release, with the system set toeventuallycover awide swath of the province's public life.

The passportfollows in the footsteps of proof of vaccination systems in other provinces, inthe form of a QR code that either lives on a smartphone app or on a physical paper copya little smaller than a credit card.That code canbe shownasproof of COVID-19 vaccinationrequired to accessmyriad businessesand community spaces for those12 and up.

The app, dubbed "NLVaxPass," stores the QR codes but not personal health information, according to the provincial government.

Businesses and organizations must download verifier appNLVaxVerifyonto a mobile device to check QR codes as peopleenter.Photo ID or a combination of other identification must alsobe shown when a QR code is verified.

If the person is fully vaccinated, a green bar appearswith an accompanying chime and buzz if not, a red bar and a separate chime and vibration.Valid medical exemptions from immunization will be given a QR code and treated the same as if a person is fully vaccinated.

"Our vaccine passport appsare tools in our public healthtoolbox that will help stop the spread of the virus and help allow a new normal,albeit not the same as before," Premier Andrew Furey said while announcing thelaunch in St. John's Thursday afternoon.

According to the government, no personal informationbesides the person's name will appear when the code is verified, but the passport isstill meant to be protected.

"Don't post it on social media," said Sarah Stoodley, minister of digital government and Service N.L., advising people to protect it as they would their provincial health cards.

Passports become mandatory Oct. 22

The free apps and codes will be released to the public Friday morning, but the passports only becomemandatory Oct. 22, giving a grace period for people to get their information in order and allowingbusinesses andorganizationsthe chance to figure out enforcement workflows.

"You can begin using them right away, but after twoweeks, it will be mandatory," said Furey.

With the delta-drivenfourth wave of the pandemic,vaccination targets have increased, and politicians at the launch stressed more people in Newfoundland and Labrador need to step up.

"We need to get to 90 per cent," said Health Minister John Haggie. "We're nearly there.It's up to you. Soget your shot today, and download your app tomorrow."

The program details come as the province reported seven new confirmed cases of COVID-19 two in Eastern Healthand the rest in the Central Health region, which is dealing with an ongoing outbreak of the virus.

Those latest numbers came with an advisory for some passengers who were on two Provincial Airlines flights.

Anyone travelling on PB902 from Deer Lake to St. John's on Sunday, Sept.26 should get tested, along with passengers in rows three to nine on PB1901 from Wabush to Sept-Iles, Quebec on Oct. 4.

As of Thursday, 81 per cent of the population was fully vaccinated, with nearly 90 per cent having had a single dose.

Where passports arerequired

Vaccination remains a choice, but in two weeks, entry to most recreational and non-essential activities for people 12 and up will be regulated by the passports.

Bars, loungesand indoor entertainment from movies to theatre to music performances will all require proof of full vaccination. Indoor seating at restaurants is also covered, but not takeout, drive-thru or patios.

Vaccine passports are mandatory for any gathering at a business or organization, from baby showers to retirement parties, and in order to access personal services like hair salons or tattoo parlours.

Indoor fitness facilities and arenas are also covered by the program.Organized sports for youth from 12 to 18 years old areexempt in what the province says is an effort to encourage physical activity.

The vaccine passports aren't mandatory for faith-based activities. If such organizations opt out of thesystem, they must operate at half-capacitywith no singing, and they must havephysical distancing and other measures in place.

While the province considered covering religious servicesentirely under the program, it opted not to after consulting with groups.

Vaccine passports are notrequired for most essential services includinghealth-care facilities, schools and daycares,post-secondary institutionsand retail stores,except car dealerships, where the passports are in effect. Transportation services, including ferries, will also be exempt.

The St. John's Board of Trade weighed in on a draft version of the plan, as businesses across the province will shoulder much of the burden ofchecking thepassports.

"Pleaseremember to be kind to businesses as they adopt this additional safety measure," said board of trade CEOAnnMarie Boudreauat the launch.

Out-of-province visitors will have to show proof of vaccination viaa paper or electronic copy. The provincial government is working with other provinces to standardize the QR code system sotravellers can have codes scanned the same as residents.

Learning curve expected, province says

The province says it will release the apps and update its COVID-19 vaccination portal at 8 a.m. NT Friday to allow people to download their QR codes.

QR codes can also be downloaded through the NLVaxPass. Up to 20 QR codes can be stored in an app to make it easier for families and people who share devices.

"We fullyacknowledge there will be a learning curve for some people with this," said Stoodley.

To that end, she said there will be toll-free help lines, educational material for businesses, as well as resources available through the public library system where staff have been trained to help.For thosewithout access to computers, there will be a toll-free phone number to calland a printed QR code can be mailed.

The province isn't providing financial support to businesses to help themcomply with the program. Organizations will needtheir own mobile device in order to verify passports, but it doesn't need to be connected to the internet on a regular basis for the app to work.

Fines for trying to skirt the systemstartat $500 for peopleand rangefrom $5,000 to $50,000 for businesses, along with potential jail time.

Government inspectors will be checking on the system, and policewill also have the authority to issue tickets for non-compliance.

Employeesat businesses that require passports also mustbe vaccinated, but the province is establishing a grace period of up until Dec.1 for those workers to gettheir shots.

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