Jorge Maria
Pontiac Aug. 18, 2021
By Sept. 1, Quebec will implement a vaccine passport system province-wide.
The Quebec health minister Christian Dubé announced the plan and provided details on its implementation during an August 10 press conference.
For most of the summer vacation period, the COVID-19 infection rates in Quebec have trended downward, but “unfortunately the virus is not going on vacation,” he said.
Due to rising infection rates, primarily because of the much more contagious Delta variant, the province has decided to introduce a passport system as it promised it would do earlier in the summer if COVID-19 infection rates increased.
While Quebec’s vaccination rates are some of the highest in the country, to reach the critical 75 per cent double vaccination threshold, the province would need to vaccinate 1.1 million people over the next 20 days, he said.
Over the coming weeks, the government will engage in several pilot projects to test its system, which is already operational.
After receiving instructions in the mail, double vaccinated Quebecers can download a free-to-use app that will use a unique QR code to identify them as double vaccinated. Facilities requiring a passport can then scan the QR code. For Quebecers without smartphones, a paper document with a QR code will be available.
High occupancy spaces such as stadiums and high contact locations such as bars will require the passport. As the situation evolves, the province will re-evaluate whether the list of locations requiring vaccine passports need to be expanded.
Quebecers who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons will not be included in this first phase of the passport rollout. However, this vulnerable group will be included in the coming weeks.
