Quebec Warns Residents Against Fake Vaccine Passport Applications In Circulation

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MONTREAL – The Quebec Ministry of Health warned residents about mobile apps that appeared to mimic the provincial vaccination test system on Saturday, prompting a major tech giant to remove potential copycats from circulation.

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The ministry issued a statement saying that the developers copied the visual design of the VaxiCode app and got similar products approved for download on Google Play.

“As soon as the ministry learned of this situation, steps were taken with Google to remove the fake apps as soon as possible,” the ministry statement read.

Google, for its part, confirmed that the applications have been removed from the Play Store.

The ministry statement said the situation has no effect on the integrity or security of the two official government apps, which are aimed at merchants and consumers respectively.

The government said official apps require access to a camera and contain no ads. Anyone who wants to download the original application should make sure to search for the exact name “VaxiCode” or “VaxiCode Verif” with no accents and no words before or after.

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Meanwhile, Prime Minister Francois Legault posted a Facebook post on Saturday commenting on a one-time bonus scheme aimed at attracting thousands of nurses back to the public sector from private employment or retirement agencies. The plan is also intended to convince part-time nurses to switch to a full-time job.

Legault said his government wants to launch a “small revolution” in the sector.

“Money will not solve all problems, but we believe it will help us curb staff shortages in the short term,” Legault said. “We have a duty to be successful in everything you do for us. We owe it to you. “

Quebec said on Sept. 23 that the government is budgeting $ 1 billion to offer bonuses to full-time nurses of up to $ 18,000 as it tries to prevent more of them from leaving the public health system and attract those who have left. for them to come back.

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However, the plan faced a backlash from Quebec’s largest nurses union, which calls for the elimination of mandatory overtime. The government has proposed reducing it.

Legault said financial incentives were only part of the plan, but they were crucial to keep more nurses from leaving the field.

“I know what is essential for you, it is not having more money, it is quality of life and work,” Legault said on Facebook, adding that the goal is also to eliminate mandatory overtime.

The province reported 795 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, with five more deaths related to the virus.

Health officials said hospitalizations rose in three of Friday’s levels to 301, while the number of patients in intensive care dropped by one to 90.

The Health Department said that of the latest reported infections, 567 occurred among people who were not vaccinated or who had only received a first dose in the past two weeks.

According to the province’s institute of public health, about 89 percent of Quebecers aged 12 and over have received at least one dose, while 83 percent consider themselves fully vaccinated with two injections.