Enforcement of Covid-19 vaccine passports comes into effect in Scotland
Enforcement of Scotland's controversial Covid-19 vaccine passport scheme has come into effect.
Proof of full vaccination is required to enter nightclubs and large events as part of the Scottish Government's efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus and increase vaccine take-up.
The measures technically came into effect from October 1, but an 18-day grace period was announced following backlash from affected industries and significant problems with the new app.
The policy will now be enforceable for nightclubs, strip clubs and unseated indoor events with more than 500 people, unseated outdoor events with over 4,000 and any event with more than 10,000 people.
Scots will have to show proof they have had both vaccine doses, with a paper copy of the certificate or a QR code on a new app, although the latter has been plagued with problems since its launch.
More than 700,000 people had downloaded the app, and a further 750,000 people have a paper copy of their vaccination status.
In a statement released yesterday, Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said there had been "helpful feedback" from impacted businesses.
"The grace period allowed venues and businesses affected more than two weeks to test the scheme in practice and make suitable arrangements," he said.
"It has also provided the Government with helpful feedback from the sectors affected and we continue to liaise with them going forward.
"This is a very limited scheme and we hope this will allow businesses to remain open and prevent any further restrictions as we head into autumn and winter.
Scottish Labour's health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: "The shambles that followed the release of the vaccine passport app was a predictable disaster.
"Weeks have passed and we have seen no change of plans despite concerns from the public, public health experts and businesses.
"This whole debacle has happened because the SNP are arrogant enough to believe they are right and Scotland is wrong.
She also called for improvements to the Scottish Government's testing system and for more efforts in convincing people to get vaccinated.
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