Global News learned that the Ontario government plans to announce changes to the testing of the province’s COVID-19 vaccination system on Friday.
Two high-ranking government officials confirmed details in stories initially reported by the Toronto Sun and CBC News, which indicate that the provincial government plans to make receipt of the QR code the only means of showing proof of vaccination.
Original vaccination receipts, which have been susceptible to fraud, would no longer be accepted.
Read more:
Ontario pauses again to lift remaining capacity limits in higher risk environments
The date on which this would take effect has not yet been determined.
In addition, officials said the government plans to extend the use of the vaccination test system beyond January 17, which is when the province previously indicated that the measure would begin to be lifted in certain settings.
The government has always said that the reopening plan depends on public health trends.
Part of the province’s reopening plan is already on hold. The government initially intended to lift capacity limits on November 15 in “higher risk settings” where proof of vaccination is required, including nightclubs and strip clubs.
That stopped on November 10 and then again on Tuesday.
COVID-19 cases have risen in Ontario recently, with 1,290 cases reported Thursday, the biggest single-day jump since late May.
However, the number of people in intensive cases with COVID-19 has remained relatively stable, although earlier this week Ontario’s COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Board warned that cases and admissions to ICU are expected to increase. .
– With files from Gabby Rodrigues
© 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Reference-globalnews.ca