"Get Your Enhanced COVID Vaccine Certificates Now: Ontarians Can Download QR Codes Over the Next 3 Days"

Ontario Unveils Enhanced COVID Vaccination Certificates with QR Codes

Ontario has announced that it will launch enhanced COVID-19 vaccines certificates, featuring scannable QR codes that will soon be available for local residents. The move has been made to ensure a more secure and efficient method for officials to screen vaccination status, and create a smoother user experience for citizens who want to download their certificates. The phasing of the rollout began on Friday morning with those born between January and April.

QR codes are predicted to make screening processes more efficient, and officials are expected to use them to ensure businesses can continue operating safely. The enhanced certificates reveal less personal information than current vaccine receipts and have been developed to help prevent the need to shut down businesses in the province. These certificates will be available for all vaccinated Ontarians to download on Oct. 18.

Birth Month-based Rollout

Following the initial rollout, Ontarians with a birthday from May to August will be able to get their vaccine certificates on Oct. 16, whereas residents born from September to December can obtain their certificates as of Oct. 17.

Ontarian citizens can download the certificates to their smartphones or use physical copies. Those who do not have access to the internet or the required devices can also contact the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre to have their enhanced certification mailed or emailed. It is important to note that the enhanced certificates are not mandatory, and Ontarians can continue using their current vaccine receipts if they wish.

QR Codes for More Efficient and Secure Screenings

The Verify Ontario app is an essential tool that businesses will use to scan QR codes, ensuring quicker and more efficient screening processes. The system will work on Apple and Android devices produced around 2014 and after. The app only stores the information necessary for screening, so there is no risk of sensitive information being compromised.

Businesses will see the green checkmark indicating a valid vaccine certificate, an X against a red background for an invalid certificate, or a yellow warning for a QR that cannot be read. At present, the QR codes only display the name, date of birth, and whether the recipient has had two doses of the vaccine, with the second dose at least 14 days prior. The specifics of the vaccine brand and shot dates will be available on the enhanced certificate itself, but they will not be transmitted via the QR codes.

QR Codes for Large Venues

With Ontario's vaccine mandate policy, fully vaccinated individuals or those with a valid medical exemption from a doctor will only be permitted to access certain settings, including theatres, nightclubs, and restaurant dining rooms. Only businesses that have used the Verify Ontario app can allow entry to these settings. The app, including QR code certification, is now available in the Apple and Google app stores.

Large venues such as Rogers Centre will be allowed to accommodate near-capacity crowds, although small business groups have voiced concerns about the lifting of some COVID-19 restrictions. The province is working on including valid medical exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines in certification codes. However, officials could not state when this feature may be introduced. The province is working on verifying medical exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines through local public health units, Health Minister Christine Elliott said at a briefing.

COVID-19 Cases in Ontario

In more than a year, Ontario has had over 600k COVID-19 cases, with 20k currently active cases. Out of over 14 million people in the province, around 83% of those eligible have had two doses of vaccine. Ontario posted 496 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths on Friday.

Conclusion

Ontario's vaccine certification system has been designed to make vaccination status screening more secure and efficient for businesses and the public. The rollout will be phased, with birthdays used to determine when residents can download their vaccination certificates. Those who need assistance can contact the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre to have their papers mailed or emailed. The Verify Ontario app, which enables the scanning of QR codes, is available in Apple and Google stores. Although the new enhanced certificates are not mandatory, they offer significant benefits for easier, safer, and more secured verification of vaccination status.