Ministers Discussing Introduction Of Mandatory Vaccine Passports

The Executive has met today to discuss the proposed introduction of mandatory vaccine passports.

However, according to reports, Ministers have received a 'modelling paper' ahead of the meeting highlighting that more "tougher" restrictions may need to be introduced to avoid overwhelming hospitals.

Health Minister Robin Swann is asking Ministers to agree the introduction of Covid passports from 29 November – with a 14 day grace period of 14 days before fixed penalty notices would be issued.

Under the proposal, the passports would be required for entry across the hospital sector and for entry to large events.

It is understood that the Minister is to highlight how evidence suggests a decline in an adherence to guidelines by the public and that voluntary uptake of a Covid certification scheme for the hospitality sector had been low.

Minister Swan is expected to advise that "further immediate measures are required to increase adherence to continued mitigations, including use of face coverings, work from home, outdoor meetings, ventilation and limiting contacts".

However, it is understood that the 'modelling paper' warns that it "remains possible that even those measures may not be sufficient and that much depends on whether there is a significant decline in community transmission" in the next three weeks.