There's a three-step plan for all employers involved
Ontario Liberals are calling on the government to expand the use of vaccine certificates to the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBOs), cannabis stores, and non-essential retail to avoid further business closures in the province – a move that could impact hundred of employers.
Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca said that the province can no longer afford Premier Doug Ford "bungling another reopening" of the economy.
"He needs to strengthen the vaccine certificate now to make sure this reopening is permanent, so that we can all get back to doing the things we love sooner, and so that businesses are not shut down again," Del Duca ."Doug Ford's Conservatives are leaving Ontarians vulnerable by failing to strengthen vaccine certificates before the province’s reopening begins.”
The Liberals in their message to Ford also called for the requirement of booster shots and changing the definition of "fully vaccinated" to three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Ford, however, turned this proposal down and said changes to definition of "fully vaccinated" is "not right at this point," Global News reported.
Read more: Ontario government introduces legislation to safeguard jobs amid COVID-19 pandemic
If allowed, what's next for HR?
Should the government of Ontario heed the calls for the expanded use of vaccine certificates, employers involved will need to utilise the Verify Ontario app to assist them.
"The Verify Ontario app makes the process of proving and verifying full vaccination status easier, more secure and convenient," said the government in an advisory to businesses.
The app quickly scans the quick-response codes on the vaccine certificates provided by patrons to ensure the validity of the government. Customers who are unable to present proof of vaccination due to exemptions will need to present an "active medical exemption." Businesses may download Verify Ontario app for free from Apple App and Google Play stores.
The government also provided a step-by-step measure to verify proof of vaccination for patrons:
- Step 1: Ask for QR code and personal ID. This includes the ID that shows their name and date of birth.
- Step 2: Scan QR code to verify proof of vaccination. The QR code can be scanned from a smart phone or paper copy. It will determine if the customer is permitted to enter.
- Step 3: Verify identification. Confirm if the patron's name and date of birth in the app matches the details on their personal ID.