The Northern Ireland Executive voted in favor of adopting a COVID passport scheme today, Wednesday, November 17.
COVID certification requires proof of full vaccination status, or a negative Lateral Flow Test in the previous 48 hours, or proof of recovery from a positive PCR test in the previous 30 – 180 days, Northern Ireland's Department of Health said on Wednesday.
While the Department is set to publish further details on the scheme today or tomorrow, it is understood the measure would apply for access to:
- nightclubs
- hospitality venues that serve food and drink
- cinemas, theatres, concert halls, and conference centres
- indoor events with 500 or more attendees with some or all of the audience not normally seated
- outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees with some or all of the audience not normally seated
- events where more than 10,000 people will be present regardless of whether they are seated
It is understood that the proposal, first tabled by Northern Ireland’s Minister for Health Robin Swann who is in support of the measures, could take effect from November 29, with a two-week grace period before fixed penalty notices could be issued.
Sinn Fein, SDLP, Alliance, and UUP voted in support of the measure on Wednesday, while DUP ministers objected to it, BBC reports.
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Minister Swann said on Wednesday after the Stormont vote: “Certification must be seen as one piece in a jigsaw of required measures. Other measures include significantly increased use of face coverings, more people working from home and more social distancing. We need to limit our contacts and always be mindful of the importance of fresh air and good ventilation in dispersing COVID-19 particles.
“We also need to continue the acceleration of our vaccine booster roll-out, and keep encouraging more people to come forward for their first and second doses.
“The case for Covid certification in hospitality is not complicated. It can reduce the number of infected people in high risk settings. Vaccinated people are less likely to become infected and ill than unvaccinated people. And the virus is only transmitted by infected people.
“Our Covid numbers are too high and we need to forcibly push them down. Our health and social care system is under severe stress. We have to act.
“Let me also emphasise that I do not want to see further Covid restrictions on our economy or our daily lives. Such a decision is far from inevitable.
“We can all play our part in altering the direction of this pandemic. It is in all our hands.
“By following public health advice we can help keep each other safe and support our health workers.
“We all want this pandemic to be over, but simply wishing it away is never going to be enough. A united effort across society is what is needed to get us through this winter.”
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